1836 Proof Two Cent Pattern - J-53

Coin Details

Auction Record

$16,800 PR63 02-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Judd-53 (Pollock-54) and rated Low R.6, this billon pattern holds the distinction of being the first two-cent piece ever produced at the United States Mint, albeit solely as an experimental issue. The obverse depicts a small spread-winged eagle standing on a cloud, with the date 1836 below and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the border. The reverse presents the denomination TWO CENTS in widely spaced lettering within a laurel wreath. Struck in billon, a deliberately low-grade alloy of 90% copper and 10% silver, this pattern features a reeded edge. The choice of billon was itself an experiment, testing whether a base-metal alloy containing a small fraction of silver might serve as an appropriate composition for minor coinage. The design's small eagle motif, though modest in scale, carries an undeniable charm and represents an early attempt by Mint engravers to adapt the federal eagle device to a diminutive denomination. As a Low R.6 issue, an estimated 13 to 30 examples survive, making this an attainable though genuinely scarce piece for pattern collectors.