1876 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-15, Copper, Washington, 100 Yrs Independence

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS67BN 08-18-2024 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1876 Assay Commission medal JK-AC-15 in copper presents the George Washington centennial design in the standard distribution metal. The centennial year was a watershed moment for the Philadelphia Mint, which served as a prominent attraction at the International Centennial Exhibition held in Fairmount Park. Visitors could watch coins being struck on a press installed in the exhibition hall, generating enormous public interest in the Mint's products. Washington's portrait on the copper JK-AC-15 reflects the centennial spirit that pervaded every aspect of American public life in 1876. The first President embodied the founding ideals that the nation was celebrating, and his image on the Assay Commission medal connected the mundane but essential work of coin testing to the grand narrative of American independence and self-governance. Chief Engraver William Barber's rendering of Washington for JK-AC-15 drew on the rich tradition of Washington portraiture that had been a staple of American medallic art since the earliest days of the Republic. The copper composition ensured wide distribution of this commemorative piece to commission members, many of whom would have attended the Centennial Exhibition and appreciated the connection between the medal they received and the broader celebration of the nation's first century.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-15 (1876) in copper. "Washington, 100 Yrs Independence" centennial design. The most commonly encountered composition for this popular number.

Cross References

PCGS #512289; JK-AC-15; 1876 Assay Commission