1859 Cent Pattern - J-228

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,650 MS66 02-21-2022 eBay

Description

Cataloged as Judd-228, Pollock-272, and rated R.1, this transitional pattern is dated 1859 but carries the oak wreath with shield reverse that would not enter regular production until 1860. The obverse presents the Indian Head design as adopted for the 1859 cent, while the reverse anticipates the following year's change from the laurel wreath to the oak wreath with a small shield at the top. Struck in copper-nickel with a plain edge, J-228 exists in both business strike and proof formats, reflecting a substantial production run that makes it one of the most readily available 19th-century pattern cents. Many collectors incorporate this piece into their regular Indian Head cent collections as a transitional variety, given that it shares the adopted obverse of 1859 with the soon-to-be-adopted reverse of 1860. Its relative abundance (R.1) stands in stark contrast to most pattern issues and makes it an accessible entry point for collectors interested in the pattern series.