PCGS POP = 0
NGC= 1, This one
Unique Unissued 1880's Gold Presidential Lifesaving Mint Medal, Julian LS-3, George T. Morgan, 35.7mm Diameter, 44 Grams, NGC MS66, Original Case.
Graded Gem Uncirculated Mint State 66 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association.
A beautiful exceptionally preserved one of a kind unissued circa 1880 Presidential Lifesaving Medal which is struck in well over an ounce and one third of solid .900 gold.
Medal complete with pin bar both .900 gold weighs 1.3760000000036956 ounce.
A mint struck and engraved medal which was issued by the United States Department of State as needed into the early twentieth century.
Most all survivors seen are usually always encountered polished, excessively hair lined, scratched, gouged, rim bumped, or abused in some other fashion as they had been displayed proudly by being worn.
Many surviving medals are also missing the pin bar and attaching clasp or have had the pin bar repaired.
I have never seen an unissued example before and neither have any exonumia dealers and an auction cataloger I’ve spoken with.
The example offered here has an extremely attractive satin matte finish very much like the Roman style sandblast proof gold issues.
This medal is signed with an M under the neck of the obverse bust for its designer George T. Morgan.
The youthful coiled hair Miss Liberty design on this medal closely resembles the obverse of Morgan’s 1880 $4 Stella gold pattern.
Again this example is unique as the only known non engraved example which somehow escaped the mint.
It comes with the original box of issue and is the only true non details gradable example available.
It was graded MS66 by NGC during their photo certification era prior to having a slab large enough to hold it.
NGC Cert: 2153498-001
Date/Info: (1880) J-LS-3(A) LIFE SAVING - STATE DEPT.
Denomination: GOLD
Grade: MEDAL MS 66
Pedigree: UNISSUED MEDAL