1852 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-145, Thick

Coin Details

Auction Record

$66,000 PR67 08-10-2023 Heritage Auctions

Description

This thick planchet variant of Judd-145 (Pollock-173, Low R.6) is an original striking of the annular gold dollar pattern, distinguishable from later restrikes primarily by its weight of approximately 32 grains. The wide central perforation gives the coin its characteristic ring shape, with the obverse bearing the date and the reverse showing the denomination, country name, and a wreath. Struck in gold with a plain edge, the thicker planchet produces a coin with greater heft and presence compared to the lighter restrike versions. The original strikings were produced during the early 1850s as part of the Mint's formal exploration of ring-format gold dollars, an experiment driven by the practical difficulty of handling the tiny 13mm Type I gold dollar and the concurrent disappearance of silver coins from circulation due to rising bullion values. The thick planchet originals are scarcer than the thin planchet restrikes, as the later productions for collectors naturally outnumbered the limited original experimental run.