1797 Eagle Pattern - J-25

Coin Details

Auction Record

$63,250 VF30 07-27-2008 Stack's

Description

Judd-25 is a copper die trial of the 1797 Capped Bust Right eagle ($10 gold coin), one of the earliest and rarest American pattern coins in the gold denomination series. The obverse features Robert Scot's Capped Bust portrait of Liberty facing right, wearing a soft cap with LIBERTY inscribed upon it, with stars around the border and the date 1797 below. The reverse displays the small eagle standing on a palm branch, holding a wreath in its beak, encircled by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The regular-issue 1797 eagle with Small Eagle reverse is itself one of the great rarities of American gold coinage, with only 3,615 struck. This copper die trial represents the Mint's testing of the dies before committing to gold strikes, a sensible precaution given the enormous value of gold planchets. The 1795-1797 Small Eagle reverse type eagles were the first $10 coins produced by the United States Mint, and pattern strikings in copper from this period are virtually nonexistent in private hands. This coin is unique and permanently impounded.

Rarity Notes

Unique (R.8). be a single known example, impounded.

Cross References

Pollock-36