1881 United States Assay Commission Medal. By George T. Morgan and William Barber. JK AC-24a. Rarity-5. Silver. MS-62 (NGC).33 mm. An attractively original piece with iridescent blue, rose and apricot highlights to dominant antique silver-gray.<p>The reverse design of this issue includes the Latin legend NE QUID DETRIMENTI RESPUBLICA CAPIAT, or "Let Not the State Receive Any Harm," which is attributed to the Roman orator Cicero during the Cataline conspiracy. The authors of the Julian-Keusch reference describe this reverse as "an artistic work of note." They also report that it comes in two varieties, the second (JK AC-24b, offered below) with the letter B at the lower left. JK AC-24a without the letter B, as here, is known in both silver and copper, but AC-24b comes only in copper.
