1879 United States Assay Commission Medal. By William Barber. JK AC-19. Rarity-5. Copper. MS-67 BN (NGC).

38 mm. Virtually flawless mahogany-brown surfaces are sharply struck with a smooth, satiny texture to both sides. One of at least 30 copper Assay Commission medals struck in this larger diameter in 1879, the obverse design was hastily created as a reduction of Henry R. Linderman's Mint Director medal. The reverse design depicts a classical lamp and torch that symbolize scientist Joseph Henry's leadership of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 until his death in 1878. Five or more copper impressions from these dies were sent to the Smithsonian Institution after the Commission's meeting, while an additional 26 examples were distributed as part of sets in medal cases that the Mint acquired from C.C. Schleunes. The present example is far finer than the Boyd-Keusch specimen (Stack's, November 2008, lot 5253), as well as others that we have handled over the years.

Estimate: $ 1000