1887 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-30, Bronze, Grover Cleveland

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,040 SP65BN 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1887 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-30 in bronze continues the Grover Cleveland portrait series into the President's second year. Cleveland's vigorous defense of the gold standard and his opposition to expanding silver coinage beyond the Bland-Allison Act requirements placed him at the center of the monetary policy debates that gave the Assay Commission's work its broader political context. The 1887 commission tested coins from 1886, a year that included continued Morgan silver dollar production and the regular output of gold denominations that formed the backbone of the nation's monetary system. Cleveland's portrait on the medal given to those who verified the quality of these coins created a symbolic connection between presidential authority and the practical mechanics of monetary administration. Charles Barber's second Cleveland portrait on JK-AC-30 reflects the engraver's refinement of the presidential likeness. Cleveland's stocky build and prominent mustache presented distinctive challenges for medallic portraiture, and Barber's handling of these features over successive annual issues demonstrates his growing facility with the subject. The bronze composition ensured wide distribution to commission members.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-30 (1887) in bronze (AE). Second "Grover Cleveland" portrait in the Assay Commission series.

Cross References

PCGS #512352; JK-AC-30; 1887 Assay Commission