QUERY: MINT DIRECTOR RAYMOND T. BAKER MEDAL INFO SOUGHT

I made a fortunate purchase on eBay recently, but I'm having trouble finding any information on it.

The medal I purchased was described by the seller as brass, but at $18 plus shipping it would have been a bargain in any metal. I was amazed that no one bid against me. It appeared from the photos to be tarnished silver, and my hunch turned out to be correct. When it arrived, I had the medal x-ray tested and found that its composition is 95% silver and 3% copper, with the balance being a blend of trace elements.

George Morgan's U. S. Mint's 3-inch medal honoring Mint Director Raymond T. Baker is listed in its old catalogs as Number 313 in bronze, but there's no mention of silver strikings. The bronze strikings have been unavailable from the Mint for about 30 years and are now somewhat scarce.

The piece I purchased weighs 7.85 troy ounces, significantly more than bronze medals of that size. The problem is that I can't find out anything about it regarding the number struck and its rarity. My specimen has raised text on the truncation of Baker's bust reading MORGAN SC. MCMXXI, and there are two round areas of disturbance on the upper edge indicating that it must have been suspended at some time.

I'm hoping that readers will know something of this medal or can point me in the right direction.

Wayne Homren, Editor

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