1838 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-73, Original

Coin Details

Auction Record

$44,650 PR67 04-26-2015 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Judd-73 (Pollock-77) and rated R.5, this original striking of the 1838 half dollar pattern features a draped bust of Liberty facing left, wearing a diadem with a ribbon inscribed LIBERTY. The reverse carries an eagle design closely related to that of the Gobrecht dollar, though with notable differences: the eagle's beak is open and its neck is rendered more broadly than on the dollar version. Struck in silver with a reeded edge and medallic die alignment. As an original striking produced in 1838, this pattern predates the restrike versions that would be manufactured decades later for the collector market. The close kinship between this reverse eagle and the celebrated Gobrecht dollar design underscores the interconnected nature of the Mint's pattern experimentation during this period, as engravers adapted and refined their work across multiple denominations simultaneously.