Owner Comments:
1935 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION MEDAL JK-AC-80 - FINEST CERTIFIED SPECIMEN
Pedigree: Clarence H. Lowe (Presidential appointee to 1935 U.S. Assay Commission)
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 50.8 mm
Designer and engraver: John Ray Sinnock
OBVERSE: In the field, the draped bust of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in high relief, facing to the right. The bust is encircled by the inscription: FRANKLIN . DELANO . ROOSEVELT . PRESIDENT . OF . THE . UNITED . STATES. Under the truncation, in small letters: . JR . SINNOCK . F . AD VIVUM . MCMXXXXIV. (J.R. Sinnock, made from life 1934).
REVERSE: In the field, a woman* is seated by a stand. She faces left and is weighing coins. In the background above her are a scroll and the seal of the Treasury Department. To the right is a modern coining press. Around the scene, the following inscription: MELTING - REFINING . COINING ASSAYING . ENGRAVING. Exergue: ANNUAL ASSAY / PHILADELPHIA / 1935. Far to the right on the platform, in small letters: JRS. * It is generally believed that Nellie Taylor Ross, Director of the Mint from 1933 to 1953, posed for the reverse.
EDGE: Clarence Lowe engraved on edge. Clarence H. Lowe, of New York, N,Y., was a presidential appointee to the 1935 U.S. Assay Commission. It was the practice of the U.S. Mint to engrave the name of each Assay Commissioner on the edge of their Assay Commission Medal. In 1935 fifteen Assay Commission medals were engraved and presented to the members of the commission.
The 1935 ASSAY COMISSION
The 1935 U.S. Assay Commission met on Wednesday February 13, 1935. It consisted of fifteen Commissioners (three Ex-Official Members, seven presidential appointments, and five representatives from the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Notable members of the 1935 Assay Commission included Nellie Taylor Ross, Director of the Mint from 1933 - 1953 (Chairman of the Assay Commission); Edward H. Dressel, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint from 1935 - 1952 (Treasurer of the Assay Commission); and John Ray Sinnock, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1925 - 1947 (the designer and engraver of the 1935 Assay Commission Medal). Chief Engraver Sinnock is best known as the designer of the Roosevelt Dime, and Franklin Half Dollar.
THIS SPECIMEN
This handsome specimen is the single finest certified example of the rare 1935 U.S. Assay Commission Medal and the only certified example (in any grade) pedigreed to one of the Assay Commission members. Julian and Keusch list the 1935 U.S. Assay Commission Medal as R5 (estimated number of specimens 31 - 75) on the Sheldon scale of rarity. As of 1/23/2016 only two other 1935 U.S. Assay Commission medals have been certified; one at PCGS SP64, and one at NGC MS62.
NGC Population: 1/0
PCGS Population: 0/0
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 1/0