Undated (ca. 1826) Semicentennial of Independence Medal. Copper. 22.5 x 22.8mm, 1.2mm thick. 86.6 grains. HK-not listed. Trial Strike Over Unknown Host Coin or Medal. VF-25 (PCGS). Dies oriented at about 45 degrees. Golden brown surfaces are glossy and show trouble free wear, with several letters from the host coin or medal showing up at left reverse and mimicking the appearance of surface marks. Just three examples of this medal are known to us, this trial strike, a holed silver example measuring 33mm in the collections of the American Numismatic Society (accession #0000.999.46295) and a "tin" example offered as lot 2179 in Woodwards May 17-21, 1864 Sale and considered "unique" at the time, less than 40 years after it was made; the "tin" piece reappeared as lot 1680 in Cogans January 1876 auction but its present whereabouts are unknown to us. The trial strike before us is struck on an unknown host coin or medal that was too small to capture the entirety of the design motifs, which on the obverse are a displayed eagle holding 3 arrows in its right talon and an olive branch in its left, with thirteen five-pointed stars below, the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM above. The reverse features an oak wreath complete with acorns, a five-pointed star at the 12 oclock position, and the legend UNION at center encircled by the legend INDEPENDENCE . JULY . 4 : 1776. All that is visible on this trial strike is eagle on the obverse, as well as the central legends and parts of the wreath on the reverse. We believe this to be a semicentennial issue due to the similarities to the political medalets of Andrew Jackson, such as AJACK 1828-9, which has a partial oak wreath and circular central reverse legends and 1828-14, which shares the oak wreath and star and central circular legends on the reverse. In addition, some of the letter and number punches are similar to or possibly exact matches to the letter and number punches on the reverse of the more well-known U.S. Semicentennial Medal of 1826 listed as HK-2, further linking this medal to the mid-1820s in general and the semicentennial issues in particular. Other than the very rare HK-2 type medal and the extremely rare (only 4-5 pieces known to us) ca. 1826 Declaration of Independence Medal offered as lot 40 in Part 9 of the Ford Collection, this may be the only other metallic numismatic collectible of the semicentennial of our nations independence and is currently the only confirmed example of this unlisted type in private hands.
