1798 Dollar Die Trial - J-25a, Copper Scrap

Coin Details

Description

This die trial was struck on an irregular piece of copper scrap using the dies of an 1798 Draped Bust dollar. Why it was struck is not known: the dies were already in their last, broken state, and uspatterns notes it may simply be a mint error on a scrap of copper that fell between the dies. The obverse features Robert Scot's Draped Bust Liberty portrait while the reverse displays the Heraldic Eagle design with shield, arrows, olive branch, and constellation of stars. The 1798 dollar was produced in significant quantities — over 327,000 pieces across multiple die varieties cataloged by Bolender. The Judd-25a designation places it in the formal pattern and die trial catalog, though its informal copper-scrap composition indicates it was never intended for numismatic distribution. It was found in the spring of 2006 by two metal detectorists on a construction site beside the site of the first Philadelphia Mint. Reference data: struck in copper with a plain edge, rated unique. Catalogued as Judd-25A. Discovered in 2006, dies of Bolender-30a and BB-116.

Rarity Notes

unique (USPatterns.com)

Cross References

Judd-25a; Pollock-28