1867 Dollar Patterns

About This Coin

Produced at the Philadelphia Mint during the second year of the Reconstruction Era program, these 1867 dollar pieces explored post-Civil War design concepts for the silver dollar at a time when silver dollars had completely vanished from domestic circulation. The suspension of specie payments in 1861 had driven all precious metal coins into hoards, creating the paradox of designing coins Americans would not see for another twelve years. The obverse features experimental designs, while the reverse tested compositions including nickel and aluminum alongside silver. A notable auction result of $33K in PR65 at Heritage Auctions demonstrates strong collector demand. The 1867 dollar patterns foreshadow the great silver dollar debates of the 1870s, when the Coinage Act of 1873 discontinued the standard silver dollar — a decision so controversial it was dubbed the "Crime of '73" by silver advocates. Some experimental designs may have influenced the Trade Dollar concept that emerged later, as officials explored whether a heavier trade-oriented dollar might better serve American commercial interests in Asian markets.