1884 United States Assay Commission Medal. Bronzed Copper. 33 mm. By George T. Morgan. JK AC-27b. Rarity-5. MS-65 (NGC). Exceptional reddish-copper surfaces exhibit a lively satin to modestly semi-reflective finish. Silky smooth with smartly impressed design elements, there is much to recommend this solidly graded Gem.The Assay Commission medals of 1883 to 1885 share the same design, differing only in the date at the lower right obverse border. The Julian-Keusch reference on this series does not provide a mintage for the 1884 medal in copper, although it does suggest that bronzed copper specimens, as here, are restrikes. Some copper impressions have been silver-plated, including the Keusch Collection specimen offered as lot 5262 in our (Stacks) November 2008 sale. Per the February 20, 1884, letter from Superintendent Snowden to Mint Director Burchard, only one silver medal was struck from these dies, although the coiners records for that year make no mention of this metallic composition.Our multiple offerings for copper/bronzed copper examples of JK AC-27 in the last 10 to 12 years confirm this as one of the more available Assay Commission medals of its era, and support the theory that restrikes were produced in this format. This is a particularly attractive Gem that is worthy of strong bids. From the Richard Jewell Collection.
