1860 Bronze Medal J-MT-23, Anthony C. Paquet

Coin Details

Description

This 1860 bronze medal Julian MT-23 is attributed to engraver Anthony C. Paquet (1814-1882), one of the U.S. Mint's most skilled assistant engravers whose work on coins and medals during the 1850s and 1860s left an enduring mark on American numismatic art. Paquet is best known among coin collectors for his controversial 1861 Double Eagle design, produced briefly before being withdrawn due to concerns about the reverse lettering's vulnerability to wear, but his medallic work encompasses a far broader range of accomplished designs that demonstrate his European-trained artistry. The obverse bears Paquet's characteristic engraving style, reflecting his training in the French school of die-cutting that emphasized naturalistic portraiture and precise lettering. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Paquet trained in Paris before emigrating to the United States and joining the Mint's engraving staff in 1857. His medallic work was frequently praised for its refinement and detail, qualities that set him apart from some of his colleagues and earned him important commissions within the Mint's medal program. The Julian MT-23 classification connects this medal to the Mint and Treasury series while the Paquet attribution identifies the specific artist responsible for the design. The reverse carries commemorative inscriptions and the MT-23 catalog reference. Paquet's career at the Mint was marked by both artistic achievement and institutional friction, as his ambitions sometimes clashed with Chief Engraver James B. Longacre's authority. Despite these tensions, Paquet's medallic output represents some of the finest work produced by the Philadelphia Mint's engraving department during the mid-nineteenth century.

Rarity Notes

Bronze medal by Anthony C. Paquet, Julian MT-23. Paquet served as assistant engraver 1857-1864.

Cross References

PCGS #517540; Julian MT-23; Anthony C. Paquet (1814-1882); U.S. Mint assistant engraver