1838 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-75a

Coin Details

Description

Judd-75a is an 1838 half dollar pattern that pairs the Kneass-attributed Liberty head obverse (Obverse 1) with Anthony C. Paquet's perched eagle reverse, which was created in 1859 and subsequently paired with earlier 1838 obverse dies. The obverse features Liberty facing left with luxuriant tresses, "LIBERTY" on the ribbon in her hair, seven stars to the left and six to the right, with the date 1838 below. Paquet's reverse features a perched eagle with a ribbon across the shield continuing to the eagle's beak, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "HALF DOLLAR" in tall letters, groups of three vertical lines in the shield, six tail feathers, and a split wingtip at right. This reverse was extensively relapped with some details ground off the die. Pieces from this pairing are fantasy restrikes of the late 1860s and the mid-1870s; the first seven editions of Judd listed them under 1859 as J-254 (silver) and J-255 (copper), and uspatterns.com doubts that a silver example exists.

Rarity Notes

R-8 (USPatterns.com)

Cross References

Judd-75a; Pollock-80; Adams-Woodin 305; also listed as J-254 in some editions