1794 Half Dollar Pattern - J-17

Coin Details

Auction Record

$29,900 • cut-down variant • 09-2006 • ANR

Description

Judd-17 is a copper die trial of the 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar. It is known in two distinct formats: as full half-dollar-sized coins and as cut-down planchets later used as host coins for official 1795 half cents. The full-size examples were struck from the Overton 109 die pairing, while cut-down examples correspond to other Overton numbers. The obverse displays Robert Scot's Flowing Hair Liberty design with stars, and the reverse features the small eagle within a wreath with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border. The existence of cut-down specimens used as half cent planchets provides remarkable evidence of the early Mint's resourceful approach to planchet preparation — copper blanks of the correct size for half cents were scarce, and the Mint apparently found it practical to cut down these die trial pieces for reuse. A full-size specimen resides in the Smithsonian, and another is held in the Kunsthistorische Museum in Vienna.

Rarity Notes

High R.7 to R.8. Two known full-size specimens plus several cut-down host coins.

Cross References

Pollock-25/26