1874 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-13, Bronze, Archimedes

Coin Details

Auction Record

$840 SP64BN 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1874 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-13 in bronze features another iteration of the Archimedes design, continuing the theme's popularity into the mid-1870s. The year 1874 was the first in which the Assay Commission operated under the new monetary regime established by the Coinage Act of 1873. The commission now tested coins produced under revised specifications, including the new Trade dollar designed for commerce with East Asia and the elimination of the standard silver dollar from regular production. Henry Robert Linderman had replaced James Pollock as Director of the Mint in 1873, bringing a more technically-oriented approach to the institution's operations. Under Linderman's leadership, the Assay Commission's testing protocols became more rigorous, reflecting the Director's background in mining and metallurgy. The Archimedes design on JK-AC-13 thus held renewed relevance under a Director who valued scientific precision above all other institutional qualities. The bronze JK-AC-13 served as the standard distribution piece for commission members in 1874, continuing the established practice of producing the annual medal in copper or bronze for general distribution while reserving precious metals for presentation purposes. William Barber's familiar Archimedes figure provided visual continuity with previous years, reassuring commission members and collectors that the series maintained its artistic standards despite the change in Mint leadership.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-13 (1874) in bronze (AE). "Archimedes" design. First Assay Commission medal issued under Director H.R. Linderman.

Cross References

PCGS #512281; JK-AC-13; 1874 Assay Commission