1901 United States Assay Commission Medal. Silver. 40 mm x 57 mm, plaque. By Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan. JK AC-45a. Rarity-5. Specimen-64 (PCGS). Delightful antique pewter gray surfaces reveal slight mottling to the color under a light, especially in the left obverse field. Sharply struck and smooth, this is a gorgeous specimen that is very close to a full Gem grade.The 1901 is particularly popular with specialists in this series as the first plaquette Assay Commission medal, all previous issues were circular, most of conspicuously smaller size. According to the Mint directors annual report, only 40 silver impressions of this type were produced in 1901, although the Julian-Keusch reference states that the 1905 and 1906 reports each account for one silver restrike from these dies. All examples exhibit the post-1900 matte finish, fully appreciable here. There were two silver impressions of this type in our (Stacks) November 2008 Keusch Collection sale, neither as fine as that offered here. From the Richard Jewell Collection.
