1857 Proof Cent Pattern - J-187

Coin Details

Auction Record

$22,325 PR63 01-07-2015 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Judd-187, this 1857 cent pattern belongs to the final year of large cent production in the United States. The piece was struck as a proof, and 1857 is notably the most plentiful date for proof large cents, with estimates indicating as many as 75 specimens may survive across all varieties. The proof population for this date divides roughly equally between two proof-only Small Date die marriages: N-3 and N-5, with the latter appearing slightly less frequently. Both varieties are distinguished by their small date logotype and proof-only status, meaning these dies were never used for circulation strikes. Struck in copper with a plain edge, these proofs exhibit the sharp detail and reflective fields characteristic of carefully produced presentation pieces. The relatively generous proof production for 1857 reflects the historic significance of the date as the last year of the large copper cent, a denomination that had been a cornerstone of American commerce since 1793. Collectors and Mint officials alike would have recognized these as the final examples of a venerable series.