1865 Proof Three Dollar Pattern - J-444a

Coin Details

Description

Judd-444a is an aluminum striking of the 1865 three-dollar piece, representing the most remarkable material experiment among the three-dollar patterns of this year. The aluminum composition would have made this coin extraordinarily lightweight, as aluminum is roughly one-third the density of copper and one-seventh the density of gold. In 1865, aluminum was still produced through expensive chemical reduction processes and commanded prices exceeding that of gold on a per-ounce basis. Longacre's Indian Princess Head design with its reeded edge faithfully reproduces the appearance of the gold original, but the silver-gray color and featherweight mass immediately distinguish it. Aluminum three-dollar patterns are virtually undocumented in the marketplace, and when they do appear, they command significant premiums over other off-metal compositions.

Rarity Notes

Among the rarest of all 1865 patterns. Aluminum three-dollar patterns are virtually unique. The exotic composition and extreme scarcity make this one of the most desirable Civil War-era patterns.

Cross References

Judd-444a; related to Judd-444