1869 United States Assay Commission Medal. Aluminum. 33 mm. By William Barber. JK AC-5c. Rarity-5. No Stars. Specimen-62 (PCGS). Delightful bright silver gray surfaces exhibits a bold cameo finish that goes unmentioned on the PCGS holder. Fully struck with wispy handling marks scattered about, although the eye appeal is excellent for the assigned grade level.The Mint produced two varieties of Assay Commission medal in 1869, both by William Barber. JK AC-5 is the type that the Julian-Keusch reference states was actually passed out to Commission members at the February 1869 meeting, albeit in silver as opposed to aluminum, as offered here. JK AC-6 is scarcer in todays market, and it differs from AC-5 in design only by the addition of 13 stars around the obverse portrait. Both types exhibit Barbers seated Columbia motif as the central device on the obverse. Only 10 aluminum impressions were struck from the AC-5 dies in March of 1869, and this is only the fourth example that we have offered at auction since 2005. From the Richard Jewell Collection.
