1929 United States Assay Commission Medal. By John R. Sinnock and Adam Pietz. JK AC-73 a. Rarity-4. Bronze. MS-66 (NGC). 51 mm. Exceptional quality for this challenging issue, both sides exhibit a lovely golden-bronze finish with pretty pale rose patina around the peripheries. Delicate sandblast surfaces are smooth overall with just a few wispy signs of handling that are easily overlooked in hand.The reverse design, used on several other issues, is one of the more popular in this series and shows the First Philadelphia Mint after the Edwin Lamasure painting commissioned by Frank Stewart. The Julian-Keusch reference states that 25 bronze medals were ordered for the 1929 Assay Commission meeting in 1929, all of which were delivered nine days later. Although the Rarity-4 rating does not suggest great rarity, this is only our third offering for JK AC-73 since our (Stacks) November 2008 sale of the fabulous Keusch Collection. The present example is far finer than the one offered as lot 232 in our March 2020 Auction, and it is sure to see spirited among specialists. From the Collection of Leonard Augsburger, co-author of The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint.
