1879 United States Assay Commission Medal. Copper. 38 mm. By William Barber. JK AC-19b. Rarity-5. Specimen-64 BN (PCGS). An exceptionally attractive near-Gem, that displays iridescent undertones of champagne-apricot (obverse) and pinkish-lilac (reverse). The obverse is a blend of olive and autumn-brown, while the reverse is more boldly toned in copper-rose. Both sides are fully struck with semi-reflective fields and satiny design elements.One of at least 30 copper Assay Commission medals struck in this larger diameter in 1879, the obverse design was hastily created as a reduction of Henry R. Lindermans Mint Director medal. The reverse design depicts a classical lamp and torch that symbolize scientist Joseph Henrys leadership of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 until his death in 1878. Five or more copper impressions from these dies were sent to the Smithsonian Institution after the Commissions meeting, while an additional 26 examples were distributed as part of sets in medal cases that the Mint acquired from C.C. Schleunes. The present example is finer than the Boyd-Keusch specimen (Stacks, November 2008, lot 5253). From the Richard Jewell Collection.
