1880 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-21, Silver, JK-AC-20 Mule

Coin Details

Description

The 1880 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-21 in silver is a precious-metal striking of the mule variety, combining the rarity of a mismatched die pairing with the scarcity of a silver composition. This piece represents the convergence of two collecting interests — mule varieties and precious-metal strikings — in a single object, making it one of the most sought-after items from the complex 1880 group. The silver mule designation as "JK-AC-20 Mule" indicates that one of the dies used in this striking was from the JK-AC-20 Hayes portrait, paired with an incompatible reverse or variant die. The survival of a silver mule implies deliberate preservation rather than accidental distribution, as the Mint would have recognized the die mismatch and the precious metal would have warranted careful handling. Silver mule medals from any year in the Assay Commission series are extraordinarily uncommon. The combination of limited silver production, the inherent rarity of mule pairings, and the likelihood of discovery and destruction during quality control creates a compounding scarcity that makes surviving examples particularly noteworthy. This JK-AC-21 silver mule may exist in only a handful of known specimens.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-21 (1880) in silver. Mule variety — mismatched die pairing in precious metal. Among the rarest varieties in the Assay Commission series.

Cross References

PCGS #972474; JK-AC-21; 1880 Assay Commission