1860 United States Assay Commission Medal. By James Barton Longacre. JK AC-1. Rarity-5. Copper. Doubled Struck with Reverse Rotation. MS-65 BN (NGC).33 mm. Both inscription and wreath vividly shift-doubled with a second impression slanting boldly down toward the right. Marvelous red mahogany patina.<p>As the first year in this series, the 1860 Assay Commission medal enjoys strong collector demand at all levels of preservation. The obverse design, the same as that of the 1861 and 1862 issues, features Longacres Liberty head motif from the engravers various patterns of 1859 (Judd-237 to 246, Judd-253). The reverse design would also continue in use through the 1862 issue, with only the date changing.From our (Bowers and Merenas) New York Public Library Collection sale, October 1982, lot 2608; our (Stacks) sale of the Ernest E. Keusch Collection, November 2008, lot 5222. Lot tags included.
