1883 United States Assay Commission Medal. By George T. Morgan. JK AC-26. Rarity-5. Copper. MS-63 BN (NGC).33 mm. A richly original mahogany-brown example with only a few light handling marks precluding an even higher numeric grade. JK AC-26 is the first medal bearing President Chester A. Arthurs portrait struck in the United States Mint, predating the administrations Presidential and Indian Peace issues designed by Charles E. Barber. The Assay Commission medal is unsigned, but attributed to George T. Morgan in the 1914 Mint catalog. The reverse design, first used for the 1882 issue, exhibits Juno Moneta instructing Putto in coin weighing, inspiration for the 1920 Wilson dollar of the Philippines. This MS-63 BN example is far superior to the copper impression in the Keusch Collection, cataloged as Choice Extremely Fine in our (Stacks) November 2008 sale. Chief Engraver Charles E. Barbers personal specimen is also a lovely Choice example, as cataloged in our (Stacks) New York Americana Sale of January 2010, as is the PCGS Specimen-64 BN sold as lot 190 in our March 2020 sale of the Richard Jewell Collection.From the Larry Baber Collection. Earlier ex Presidential Coin and Antique Co., Inc.s Richard B. Dusterberg Collection sale, October 2000, lot 355. Lot tag included.
