"1819" (ca. 1845-1860) Series Numismatica Medal. By John R. Bacon. Musante GW-101, Baker-130. Bronze. MS-67 BN (NGC).
41 mm. Pointing hand privy mark and CUIVRE on the edge indicates the given date range, a variant not listed in the Rulau-Fuld revision of Medallic Portraits. This virtually pristine beauty reveals semi-reflective tendencies in the fields and delicate powder blue and champagne-pink undertones as the surfaces dip into a light. Otherwise richly toned in copper-brown with a full strike, frosty texture and silky smooth appearance. Per Musante's research, John Bacon was commissioned to cut this new obverse die after production of the Series Numismatica medals was returned to France. (From 1826 to 1844, Durand had the medals in this series struck in Munich.) As he noted that production of Bacon's dies concluded in 1846, it would seem that the Paris Mint privy mark seen on this piece dates it to the later part of the run.