1881 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-24b, Copper, Rutherford B. Hayes

Coin Details

Auction Record

$480 MS64BN 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1881 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-24b in copper is a variant of the Hayes portrait design, distinguished from JK-AC-24a by specific die characteristics that the Julian-Kamm catalog has identified as meriting a separate number. The differences between the "a" and "b" variants may involve inscription details, die state, or subtle design modifications that reflect the engraving department's refinement process. The production of variant versions within a single year's Assay Commission medal continued the pattern established in 1880, when four distinct numbers were cataloged. Under Charles Barber's direction, the engraving department have maintained the practice of exploring multiple approaches to each year's medal design, even when the primary subject — in this case, the Hayes portrait — remained constant between variants. The copper composition of JK-AC-24b places it in the standard distribution tier of the medal program. The existence of both "a" and "b" copper variants indicates that both versions were produced in sufficient quantities for distribution, rather than one being a rare experimental striking. Collectors of the Assay Commission series value variant pairs like JK-AC-24a and -24b as opportunities to study the nuances of die preparation and design evolution within a single commission year.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-24b (1881) in copper. "Rutherford B. Hayes" variant, distinguished from JK-AC-24a by die characteristics.

Cross References

PCGS #512325; JK-AC-24b; 1881 Assay Commission