1956 United States Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By Gilroy Roberts. JK AC-100a. Rarity-7. MS-67 (NGC). Splendid tannish-gold patina is seen both sides. There is minimal speckling with lighter antique gold undertones. A light obverse spot at the letter W in EISENHOWER is noted. The surfaces are otherwise smooth and very close to pristine. Fully struck and highly appealing.The reverse design is the same as that used for the 1953 JK AC-98, and it shows Abundance kneeling with cornucopia of coins, four figures of mining, refining, pouring metal and striking coins around the central portrait. This design demonstrates the talent and capability of a major Mint engraver whose works were not seen by the coin-using public or even most collectors until he quit and gambled on a spectacularly successful career with the Franklin Mint. The 1956 AC-100 is an outstanding modern rarity; no example appeared in the otherwise definitive Dreyfuss Collection. Our (Stacks) November 2008 sale of the Keusch Collection did include one of these, but the present specimen is far finer. An important bidding opportunity for advanced collectors. From the Richard Jewell Collection. Earlier from Steve Haydens Auction #36, July 2012, lot 757. Lot tag with attribution and provenance notes included.
