1839 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-102, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$32,200 PR66 01-01-2009 Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-102, Pollock-113, High R.7. This half dollar pattern marries a regular 1839 Seated Liberty obverse die -- the "With Drapery" variety -- with the same Flying Eagle reverse found on Judd-100. The result is a fascinating transitional piece that bridges two distinct eras of American coinage design: the newly adopted Seated Liberty obverse and an experimental eagle reverse that would not see production use in this form. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Both Judd-100 and Judd-102 share the same extensively cracked and rusted reverse die, along with other characteristics pointing to a common striking period in the 1870s, during the permissive Mint administration of Director Henry R. Linderman. A single unique example cataloged as Judd-102a, reportedly with a plain edge, appeared in the King Farouk collection catalog, though this was a cataloging error and the piece remains unconfirmed today. These patterns hold particular interest for Gobrecht dollar specialists, as they effectively represent "Gobrecht half dollars" -- pieces that incorporate intermediate design elements produced by several artists during the transition from the Capped Bust to the Seated Liberty coinage. They offer a tangible glimpse into the design evolution that reshaped American silver coinage in the late 1830s.