1869 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-5, Copper, Seated, No Stars

Coin Details

Auction Record

$600 MS64BNPL 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1869 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-5 in copper features the "Seated, No Stars" design, the first of two obverse variants produced for the 1869 commission year. The absence of stars in the field gives this version a cleaner, more austere appearance compared to its JK-AC-6 counterpart. The seated figure dominates the composition without the visual competition of surrounding stellar elements, allowing the viewer to focus on the allegorical representation of the commission's purpose. The year 1869 marked a critical transition in the Philadelphia Mint's engraving department. Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre passed away on January 1, 1869, leaving the department temporarily without permanent leadership. William Barber would eventually be appointed to the position, but the 1869 Assay Commission medals were produced during this interregnum, potentially reflecting work by multiple hands in the engraving department. The copper composition was the standard medium for Assay Commission medals intended for general distribution to commission members. Copper's warm reddish-brown tone provided an attractive backdrop for the seated figure design, and its relative softness under the press ensured good detail reproduction. The "No Stars" variant offers collectors a study in the engraver's compositional choices, demonstrating how the presence or absence of a single design element can fundamentally alter the visual character of a medal.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-5 (1869) in copper. "Seated, No Stars" variant. One of two obverse designs produced for the 1869 commission year.

Cross References

PCGS #512256; JK-AC-5; 1869 Assay Commission