1861 Quarter Eagle Pattern - J-281

Coin Details

Auction Record

$30,000 MS63+ 02-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-281, Pollock-333, is a quarter eagle pattern struck in copper without the proof designation, indicating it was produced as a business strike rather than a specially prepared proof. This distinction is significant because business-strike patterns were typically made to test how dies would perform under normal production conditions, rather than for collector distribution. The Liberty Head quarter eagle design on the obverse pairs with an experimental reverse, and the copper composition served as a stand-in for the intended gold. The absence of proof finish indicates this piece was part of a production test run rather than a formal pattern presentation.

Rarity Notes

Rarity-7. Approximately 5-8 specimens known. Business-strike patterns of this denomination are rarer than proofs in many cases.

Cross References

Judd-281; Pollock-333