1900 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-44, Bronzed-Cu, William McKinley

Coin Details

Description

The 1900 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-44 in bronzed copper features the third McKinley portrait with the enhanced patina finish during the year of the Gold Standard Act. The bronzed copper variant continues the pattern of enhanced-finish production that characterized the McKinley years, providing a middle-tier presentation option. The passage of the Gold Standard Act on March 14, 1900 established the gold dollar containing 25.8 grains of gold, nine-tenths fine, as the standard unit of value. All other forms of money were to be maintained at parity with this standard. The act represented the culmination of McKinley's monetary platform and the definitive victory of the gold standard forces that had dominated the Republican Party since the 1870s. The bronzed copper JK-AC-44 commemorates a year of monetary triumph for the administration whose leader's portrait it bears. McKinley's image on this Gold Standard Act year medal creates a visual association between the President and his signature legislative achievement, making the 1900 Assay Commission medal group one of the most historically resonant in the series.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-44 (1900) in bronzed copper. Third "William McKinley" portrait from the Gold Standard Act year. Bronzed copper strikings are scarcer than standard copper.

Cross References

PCGS #539316; JK-AC-44; 1900 Assay Commission