1952 United States Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro. JK AC-97a. Rarity-7. Edge Incuse MRS. FLORENCE K. MURRAY. MS-67 (NGC). Outstanding golden-brown surfaces reveal a tinge of pale olive under a light. Fully struck with a virtually flawless sandblast finish.Despite the date 1792 present on the obverse of this issue, the first Assay Commission meeting was held in 1797. The reverse design, which was used in modified form on the final Assay Commission medal in 1977, is adapted from Edwin Lamasures 1914 painting of "Ye Olde Mint." JK AC-97 is rare, not only missing from our (Stacks) November 2008 Keusch Collection sale, but also from all of our other recent auction offerings. The pristine appearance of this specimen places it among the highlights of the later Assay Commission medals in this collection.Originally presented to Florence K. Murray, a Rhode Island State senator from 1949 to 1956 who was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1952 and later served as a Superior Court judge and Chief Justice in her home state. During World War II she attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Womens Army Corps.This lot includes the original case issued with the medal, As New and essentially flawless. (Total: 1 medal; 1 case) From the Richard Jewell Collection.
