1924 AE Medal JK-AC-68, Calvin Coolidge SP(PCGS#972630)

March 2020 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

226

等级

MS66

价格

6,388

详细说明

1924 United States Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By George T. Morgan. JK AC-68a. Rarity-4. Edge Incuse MR. AMBROSE SWASEY. MS-66 (NGC). Rich golden patina, glossy and pleasing, is seen on both sides of this delightful premium Gem. President Calvin Coolidge objected to his likeness as it appeared on the 1924 Assay Commission medals. It was replaced the following year, and again in 1926 with a thin-featured portrait that recalled Dorothy Parker's witticism that the president's habitual expression suggested that he had been weaned on a pickle. The Julian-Keusch reference on this series does not note a mintage figure for the 1924 medal, but the Dreyfuss sale points out that this date is "sufficiently rare as to not be illustrated in the Pessolano-Filos book." Seemingly more elusive than the Julian-Keusch rating of Rarity-4 might imply, we have handled only two examples of AC-68 over the last 12 years. The other, the Keusch specimen, was inscribed to Mr. William R. Siner on the edge. Ambrose Swasey was, like the Norwebs, a Cleveland resident. He had previously sat on the 1909 Assay Commission and joined the ANA in June of that year. When his application was published in The Numismatist, Farran Zerbe (who also sat on the 1909 Assay Commission) noted, "Mr. Swasey is one of the telescope producing firm, the Warner & Swasey Co., who made the great telescopes for the Lick, Yerkes, and U.S. Naval Observatories." According to Dave Bowers' ANA Centennial History, Swasey was "a close friend of Victor D. Brenner." It seems he was friends with his neighbors, the Norwebs, as well. Incidentally, the 1924 ANA Convention was also in Cleveland. Provenance: From the Richard Jewell Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of the Norweb Collection, November 2006, lot 2259. Lot tag and collector tag included. Click here for certification details from NGC.