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First Term Garfield Inaugural Medal NGC MS-66

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Medals

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Superb First Term Garfield Inaugural Medal NGC MS-66

1881-Dated. (c.1900) James A. Garfield Medal. Struck at the United States Mint in Bronze. NGC graded Mint State-66.
Julian PR-21. 76.4 mm. 208.5 gm. This impressive First Term Garfield Inaugural Medal was struck from dies originally designed and engraved by Charles Barber. It is a lovely, deep natural chestnut-brown in color and is in superb quality, NGC certified and graded Mint State-66. This medal is the only and Finest in quality of this vintage, so certified by NGC to date. Accompanied by its NGC photo certification.



This is a United States Mint made medal, produced circa 1900. To our best knowledge, we are aware of only a small group of this special vintage and type that were recently discovered, and unpublished until now. To our best knowledge only one of each design is known. It is possible that others may exist. They are clearly not originals or 19th century restrikes. These medals have a distinct appearance. They are certainly the "only ones recognized" for what they are. Also, they are apparently even rarer than the medals that were produced by the Mint with the green experimental finish, that were used for only a few years at the turn of the 19th century. According to Joe Levine, he has not seen any of this vintage previously, over many decades of specialization and as a top authority in the field. We know of none other of these medals, other than a few sold through Presidential. It is difficult to estimate their market value as they are of a later issue, and the "originals" have been widely collected since made. However, this vintage of issue appears to be vastly more rare than the "originals," if not unique. The true rarity of these medals is unknown. However, the fact that they have just come to the attention of longtime specialists in the field is a good indication of their great scarcity.


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