1862 Proof Eagle Pattern - J-298, Gilt

Coin Details

Description

Judd-298 Gilt is a gilt copper proof of the second 1862 eagle pattern variety with the GOD OUR TRUST motto, presenting an alternative arrangement from J-297. The obverse continues the coronet Liberty Head design standard for eagles of the era, while the reverse features a different configuration of the motto relative to the eagle device, exploring how variations in text placement, size, or style affected the coin's overall appearance. The existence of two distinct eagle pattern varieties in 1862 (J-297 and J-298) indicates that the Mint considered multiple approaches to integrating the motto on this denomination. The differences between the two may involve the motto's position (above or below the eagle, on a scroll or in the field), the style of lettering (serif weight, character spacing, letter height), or the interaction between the motto text and the existing design elements. Each approach required balancing legibility against aesthetic harmony with the existing Gobrecht design. Gilt copper proofs of gold patterns occupy a special niche in numismatic collecting. They are almost invariably rarer than their copper or silver counterparts because the gilding process required additional handling and materials, limiting production. At the same time, they are the most visually representative of the intended final product, giving modern observers the closest approximation to what a circulating gold eagle with the GOD OUR TRUST motto would have looked like. The motto would ultimately reach the eagle denomination in a modified form — IN GOD WE TRUST — beginning with the 1866 Motto type, which remained in production through the end of the coronet design in 1907.

Rarity Notes

R.7 to R.8. Extremely rare. Similar rarity to J-297 Gilt. Most survivors are in copper or gilt copper.

Cross References

Judd-298; Gilt copper; GOD OUR TRUST motto series; cf. J-297 Gilt