1880 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-21, Bronze, Mule

Coin Details

Auction Record

$900 MS66BN 03-29-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1880 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-21 in bronze is a mule created by pairing dies from different Assay Commission medals. The mule designation indicates that the obverse and reverse used for this striking were not originally intended as a matched pair, resulting in a hybrid piece that exists outside the intended design sequence. Mules in the Assay Commission series are among the most intriguing items for advanced collectors, as they reveal the mechanics of die management at the Philadelphia Mint. The 1880 commission year produced an unusually complex array of medal variants — JK-AC-20 through JK-AC-23 represent four distinct die combinations, including this mule. This proliferation of types may reflect the transition in the engraving department following William Barber's death in 1879 and Charles Barber's assumption of the Chief Engraver role. During such transitions, die inventory management could become unsettled, creating opportunities for unintended die pairings. The bronze composition of this mule indicates it was struck for potential distribution rather than as a unique presentation piece. Whether the mule pairing was recognized at the time of striking or only later identified by catalogers, it has become one of the distinctive varieties that collectors of the Assay Commission series actively seek.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-21 (1880) in bronze (AE). Mule striking with mismatched dies. Mule varieties are scarce in the Assay Commission series.

Cross References

PCGS #512310; JK-AC-21; 1880 Assay Commission