1849 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-115

Coin Details

Description

Judd-115, Pollock-130, is a proof striking of the 1849 gold dollar pattern featuring an experimental perforated or ring design. The obverse displays the inscription 1 DOLLAR and the date 1849 arranged around a central opening, while the reverse carries a laurel wreath encircling the perforation with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the outer legend. Struck in gold with a plain edge. The perforated design concept addressed a genuine practical concern: gold dollars were extremely small, measuring only 13mm in diameter, making them easy to lose and difficult to handle. By incorporating a central hole, the Mint hoped to make the coins more distinctive and easier to grasp without increasing their size or gold content. Similar ring-format coins had been used successfully in other nations, and the idea had merit from a utilitarian standpoint. James B. Longacre, who had recently been appointed Chief Engraver following the death of Christian Gobrecht in 1844, prepared these experimental dies as part of the Mint's broader effort to implement the gold dollar authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849. The same legislation also authorized the double eagle, and both denominations represented Congress's response to the massive influx of California gold that was already transforming the American economy. Ultimately, the Mint chose Longacre's conventional Liberty Head design without a perforation for the adopted coin, but these ring patterns remain fascinating evidence of an alternative approach that came remarkably close to production.

Rarity Notes

High R.7. Extremely rare in gold. Approximately 3-5 specimens known.

Cross References

Judd-115; Pollock-130