1889 United States Assay Commission Medal. Copper. 76 mm. By Charles E. Barber. JK AC-32a. Rarity-5. MS-65 BN (NGC). Exceptional Gem quality surfaces display warm, even, autumn-copper and pale olive-gray patina, the latter color mostly at the reverse periphery around the wreath. Both sides are smooth and virtually blemish free, an outstanding example of this scarce issue. The 1889 Assay Commission medal was struck from the same obverse die of the 1888 issue (JK AC-31), which is also the same die that the Mint used for the Grover Cleveland Presidential medal, Julian PR-23. The reverse of both Assay Commission medals are the same apart from the date, the wreath depicted is the same as that on the aforementioned Presidential medal. JK AC-32 is scarce and, indeed, this is the first 1889 Assay Commission medal that we have offered since our (Stacks) November 2008 sale of the Ernest E. Keusch Collection. The Keusch specimen, offered as lot 5269 in our 2008 sale, exhibited a few minor blemishes that included a prominent spot at the back of President Clevelands neck. The present example is far finer and would serve with distinction in an advanced cabinet. From the Richard Jewell Collection.
