1836 Proof Gold Dollar Pattern - J-67

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

Cataloged as Judd-67 (Pollock-70, R.5), the 1836 gold dollar pattern is the first gold dollar pattern; Christian Gobrecht, then the Mint's second engraver, prepared it at Director Robert M. Patterson's direction. The obverse presents a Liberty cap encircled by radiating rays of glory — a motif inspired by contemporary Mexican coinage of the period. The reverse features the denomination 1 D. within a gracefully coiled palm frond, with the date 1836 below and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above. Struck in gold with a plain edge. This pattern predates the official gold dollar denomination by more than a decade — Congress did not authorize the gold dollar until 1849. Gobrecht's cap-and-rays design was produced alongside his silver Flying Eagle dollar patterns. The design is closely related to the motif used on the 1836 Mint medal commemorating the introduction of steam-powered coinage at the Philadelphia Mint. uspatterns.com records about three dozen gold examples, including restrikes of the late 1850s and early 1860s, one of them overstruck on an 1859 gold dollar. Reference data: struck in gold with a plain edge, rated R-5. Catalogued as Judd-67, Pollock-70, A/W 50, Taxay EP86. these are believed struck circa 1859 and possibly later as well.

Rarity Notes

R-5 (USPatterns.com)

Cross References

Judd-67; Pollock-70; Adams-Woodin 50; Taxay EP86