1871 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-10, Aluminum, Archimedes, No Inscription

Coin Details

Description

The 1871 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-10 in aluminum is an experimental striking of the Archimedes "No Inscription" design in a metal that was still considered semi-precious in the early 1870s. Aluminum strikings of Assay Commission medals from this period are among the rarest compositions in the series, produced in extremely small numbers as metallurgical experiments and prestige presentation pieces. The lightweight aluminum planchet gives this JK-AC-10 a distinctive handling characteristic — the medal feels almost impossibly light for its size, a quality that would have impressed contemporaries accustomed to the heft of bronze and silver medals. The bright, silvery-white surface of aluminum provides an excellent canvas for the Archimedes design, with the ancient scientist's figure rendered in sharp relief against the lustrous background. The production of aluminum medals at the Philadelphia Mint in 1871 occurred during a brief window when the metal occupied a unique status in American manufacturing. Too expensive for common use but increasingly available through improved chemical reduction processes, aluminum represented the cutting edge of materials science. The Mint's willingness to experiment with it for Assay Commission medals demonstrates the institution's engagement with contemporary metallurgical advances — fitting, given that the commission's own mandate centered on the scientific verification of metallic composition.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-10 (1871) in aluminum. "Archimedes, No Inscription" variant. Aluminum strikings from this era are rare, as the metal was still costly and produced in very limited quantities.

Cross References

PCGS #972718; JK-AC-10; 1871 Assay Commission