1875 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-14, Bronze, Archimedes

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,260 MS67BN 08-19-2018 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1875 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-14 in bronze features the Archimedes design for the fifth consecutive year, establishing this motif as the signature theme of the early 1870s Assay Commission medal program. By 1875, the Archimedes figure had become almost synonymous with the series, providing a classical visual identity that distinguished these medals from the Mint's other commemorative and ceremonial productions. The 1875 commission tested coins from 1874, the first full year of production under the Coinage Act of 1873. The Trade dollar, designed by William Barber specifically for Far Eastern commerce, was now in regular production, and the commission's verification of its silver content (420 grains of .900 fine silver) was a matter of international as well as domestic significance. The standard silver dollar had been removed from production, making the Trade dollar the primary silver coin subject to the commission's scrutiny. JK-AC-14 in bronze represents the mature phase of the Archimedes design era. William Barber had refined the composition through several iterations, and the 1875 version exhibits the confidence and facility that comes from an engraver working within a well-established design framework. The bronze medal remains the most commonly available composition for this number, serving as the standard issue for commission members.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-14 (1875) in bronze (AE). "Archimedes" design. Continuation of the established Archimedes theme under Director Linderman.

Cross References

PCGS #512285; JK-AC-14; 1875 Assay Commission