1859 Cent Pattern - J-229a

Coin Details

Auction Record

$195,500 MS62 07-01-2008 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Judd-229a, this 1859 cent pattern is a dual-obverse mule, featuring obverse designs on both sides of the coin with no reverse die used at all. This remarkable error in die pairing created one of the most unusual entries in the 1859 pattern series. The 1859 Indian Head cent was the first year of a new design that proved both popular with the public and practical for the Mint. James B. Longacre carefully positioned the main design elements so they did not directly oppose each other on obverse and reverse, which allowed planchet metal to flow more easily into the die cavities and eliminated the striking difficulties that had plagued the Flying Eagle cent. The one-year-only laurel wreath reverse of 1859 makes even regular-issue cents of this date popular with type collectors. Production was high as the Mint worked to retire old large copper cents and foreign coins that had circulated until 1857. Several die-punching varieties are documented for this date, with the most notable ones listed in the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties.