1804 Half Eagle Pattern - J-29

Coin Details

Description

Judd-29 is cataloged as a copper die trial of the 1804 Capped Bust Right half eagle with Heraldic Eagle reverse. The obverse features Robert Scot's Capped Bust portrait of Liberty facing right, wearing a soft turban-like cap with LIBERTY inscribed on it, surrounded by stars and the date 1804 below. The reverse displays the Heraldic Eagle bearing a shield, clutching an olive branch and arrows, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination around the border. Regular-issue 1804 half eagles were produced with a mintage of approximately 30,475 pieces in gold. This copper die trial represents the Mint's standard practice of testing dies in base metal before committing to gold production, preserving a record of the die state. Copper die trials of early American gold denominations are among the rarest and most coveted of all pattern coins, as very few were produced and even fewer have survived.

Rarity Notes

R.8. Extremely rare; be unique or nearly so.

Cross References

Pollock-40