1839 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-95, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$40,800 PR66 04-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-95, Pollock-103, R.8. This extremely rare half dollar pattern features an obverse design in the style of Christian Gobrecht, with Liberty facing right -- the so-called "Backward Head" orientation relative to the leftward-facing Liberty on regular gold coinage. The reverse closely follows the adopted Seated Liberty half dollar design of 1839-1842. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. With a rarity rating of R.8, indicating two to three known survivors, this restrike ranks among the scarcest entries in the entire 1839 half dollar pattern series. The original silver impressions from these dies are classified as Judd-93, while copper originals are Judd-94; the silver restrikes became Judd-95 and copper restrikes Judd-96. All of these 1838-1839 half dollar patterns are extraordinarily rare, with most varieties limited to single-digit populations, and they collectively document the profound design shift from the Capped Bust era to the Seated Liberty coinage.