1867 United States Assay Commission Medal. Silver. 33 mm. By James Barton Longacre. JK AC-3. Rarity-5. MS-63 (ANACS). Beautifully toned on both sides with antique silver, olive-gray, pale gold, powder blue and pinkish-rose. The strike is razor sharp throughout and the design elements are softly frosted and contrast minimally with semi-reflective fields. Inspection with a loupe reveals tiny carbon flecks on both sides; a spot in the upper right obverse field is more pronounced.William Millwards replacement of James Pollock as Mint Director in the fall of 1866 may have provided the impetus for resumption of the Assay Commission medal series the following year. The Julian-Keusch reference speculates that Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre may have found Millward more receptive to these medals than his predecessor. The designs of the 1861 and 1867 issues are identical, except of course for the date within the wreath on the reverse. The obverse represents the final use of Longacres Liberty Head portrait from his 1859 pattern half dollars in the Assay Commission medal series. The first 12 medals of this issue were delivered in February of 1867, presumably in silver. Survivors in this metal are highly elusive, and this is only the third silver impression of JK AC-3 that we have handled since our (Stacks) November 2008 offering of the Keusch Collection. From the Richard Jewell Collection.
