1850 Proof Cent Pattern - J-124a

Coin Details

Auction Record

$46,000 PR65 01-01-2007 Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-124A, Pollock-139A. This variant of the 1850 annular cent pattern shares the basic design concept of the Judd-124 series -- experimental small cent patterns produced as the Mint sought to replace the oversized large copper cent. Struck with a plain edge, this variety differs from the standard Judd-124 in its specific alloy composition. The 1850 cent patterns exist in at least five compositional variants (Judd-124 through 124C and related varieties), reflecting the Mint's systematic testing of different metal combinations for the proposed smaller cent. Each variant offered different trade-offs between production cost, durability, resistance to counterfeiting, and public acceptance. These experiments laid the groundwork for the eventual transition away from the large cent, which would not be fully realized until the introduction of the Flying Eagle cent in 1857.