1885 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-28, Aluminum, Chester A. Arthur

Coin Details

Description

The 1885 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-28 in aluminum is an experimental striking of the final Arthur portrait in a metal that was becoming increasingly accessible by the mid-1880s but was still uncommon for medallic production. The aluminum JK-AC-28 represents a late-nineteenth-century continuation of the Mint's tradition of producing Assay Commission medals in exotic compositions, offering collectors a lightweight alternative to the standard bronze and scarce silver versions. By 1885, the price of aluminum had declined significantly from its mid-century peak, though the Hall-Heroult electrolytic process that would make it truly inexpensive was still a year away from its 1886 discovery. The aluminum Assay Commission medals from this period thus occupy an interesting transitional moment in the metal's history — no longer the semi-precious curiosity of the 1860s but not yet the common industrial material of the twentieth century. The Arthur portrait in aluminum creates a distinctive visual and tactile impression, with the metal's bright white surface and remarkable lightness setting it apart from all other compositions. Aluminum strikings of Assay Commission medals from the 1880s are scarce, as production quantities were limited even as the metal became more available.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-28 (1885) in aluminum. Third and final "Chester A. Arthur" portrait. Aluminum strikings from this period are scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #972478; JK-AC-28; 1885 Assay Commission