1859 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-256
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$6,325 PR63 01-01-2009 Heritage Auctions
Description
Judd-256 is a pattern dollar struck in copper, featuring the regular 1859 Liberty Seated obverse combined with a new reverse design. The obverse displays Christian Gobrecht's Liberty Seated figure with thirteen stars around the border and the date 1859. The reverse features a cereal wreath enclosing the denomination ONE DOLLAR, representing one of the experimental wreath designs being considered for silver coinage in this period. Struck with a reeded edge, this copper pattern allowed the Mint to test the die combination without expending silver. The year 1859 was exceptionally productive for pattern coinage at the Philadelphia Mint under Director James Ross Snowden, who encouraged the creation of patterns both for design evaluation and for sale or trade to collectors. Dollar-denomination patterns from 1859 are considerably rarer than the prolific half dollar patterns of the same year.
Rarity Notes
R.7. Fewer than 10 examples exist.
Cross References
Pollock-303
External References
Error Varieties
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