1839 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-100, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$78,000 PR66 05-07-2023 Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-100, Pollock-110, R.8. This remarkably rare half dollar pattern pairs the regular Capped Bust obverse die of 1836-1839, dated 1839, with an unusual Flying Eagle reverse. The reverse design bears a resemblance to the motif later adopted for the Flying Eagle cent series, though the eagle on this pattern has a somewhat ungainly appearance with an extra curve in the neck that distinguishes it from more refined versions. The standard inscriptions encircle the rim on both sides. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Only two examples of this pattern exist, making it one of the rarest entries in the 1839 half dollar pattern series. The piece is classified as a restrike, produced after the passage of the Mint Act of February 21, 1853, which reduced the standard weight of half dollars from 206.25 grains to 192 grains of.900 fine silver. The lighter weight of surviving specimens confirms their post-1853 production date, placing them among the many collector-oriented restrikes manufactured at the Philadelphia Mint during the middle decades of the nineteenth century.