1854 Proof Cent Pattern - J-162

Coin Details

Auction Record

$13,800 PR65 01-01-2007 Stack's

Description

Judd-162 is an extremely rare oroide striking of the 1854 Braided Hair or Coronet Head experimental cent pattern. The obverse features the familiar Braided Hair Liberty Head design by Christian Gobrecht, similar to the regular-issue large cent but reduced in diameter and without obverse stars, giving the design a distinctive cameo-like appearance on the smaller planchet. The reverse displays the same wreath design shared by the J-160 and J-161 varieties. Oroide is a gold-colored alloy composed primarily of copper with small amounts of tin and zinc, giving the coin an attractive golden appearance intended to evaluate whether a gold-toned alloy might be suitable for the new small cent denomination. While the copper (J-160) and bronze (J-161) strikings from these same dies are available at the R.4 level, the oroide J-162 is profoundly rare at R.8, making it one of the most elusive of all 1854 cent patterns. The Coronet Head cent patterns represent an alternative design direction that was ultimately passed over in favor of the Flying Eagle motif.

Rarity Notes

R.8. Only 1-2 examples exist in oroide.

Cross References

Pollock-188