1875 United States Assay Commission Medal. By William Barber. JK AC-14. Rarity-5. Copper. MS-64 BN (NGC).33 mm. Premium Choice Mint State quality for this enigmatic issue. Satiny surfaces are smartly impressed with warm, even toning in mahogany-brown. Nearly pristine in hand, and not all that far from an even higher numeric grade. The history of this issue is shrouded in mystery. The Julian-Keusch reference mentions a single official notation for the 1875 Assay Commission medal that reports Director Henry R. Linderman receiving two copper impressions for the Mint Cabinet on March 2 of that year. This is the only metallic composition known for the issue. This piece, the example that sold as lot 179 in our March 2020 Auction, and the Keusch Collection specimen that we (Stacks) handled in November 2008 are the only three examples of JK AC-14 to appear in our auctions in recent years.From the Larry Baber Collection. Earlier ex Heritages Long Beach Signature Auction of September 2006, lot 6575.
