(1858) Proof Cent Pattern - J-215

Coin Details

Description

Judd-215 is an 1858 Indian Head cent pattern pairing Obverse 7 (the Indian Head design without a date) with Reverse C (an oak wreath with a broad ornamental shield at the apex, arrows below, and ONE CENT at the center). The parenthesized date "(1858)" reflects the undated nature of this coin, which bears no date on either side. The Indian Head obverse is the same basic design by Longacre that would be adopted for circulation in 1859, but this die was prepared without numerals, as a preliminary die trial or as part of a broader experiment with dateless designs. Struck in copper-nickel with a plain edge, this extremely rare pattern is known from only a handful of specimens. The undated Indian Head patterns (J-214 through J-216) are among the rarest of all 1858 cent patterns, as they were not included in the standard 12-piece sets sold to collectors.

Rarity Notes

R.7. Extremely rare; fewer than 10 examples exist.

Cross References

Pollock-266