1851 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-133, Restrike

Coin Details

Description

Judd-133 is a copper restrike of the 1851 Liberty Seated dollar, produced as part of Mint Director James Ross Snowden's restrike program initiated circa 1859. The obverse features the standard Liberty Seated design by Christian Gobrecht: Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole with a Liberty cap in her left hand and a shield bearing the word "LIBERTY" in her right, with thirteen stars around the border and the date 1851 below. The reverse displays a bald eagle with outstretched wings clutching an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DOL." below. The original 1851 silver dollar had a tiny mintage of only 1,300 pieces, making it a significant rarity recognized even by contemporary collectors. Snowden responded to demand by producing restrike proofs, though for the 1851 dollar a different obverse die was used, with the date positioned horizontally and centered rather than the original die's slightly upward-slanting date. Copper restrikes appeared on the market later than the silver versions and are considerably rarer.

Rarity Notes

R.7 to R.8. Very rare; only a handful of copper restrikes are known.

Cross References

Pollock-160