1870 Proof Dime Pattern - J-859
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$27,550 PR65 06-10-1991 Bowers & Merena
Description
Aluminum with a reeded edge presents the modified Seated Liberty obverse and Standard wreath reverse in a strikingly lightweight format. The seated figure, already appearing somewhat incongruous on a coin weighing a fraction of what its design traditionally implied, seems even more at odds with an aluminum planchet. This dissonance between monumental design and insubstantial medium highlights a fundamental tension in the 1870 Standard Silver program: how to maintain the dignity and authority of American coinage while reducing the intrinsic metal value of each coin.
Rarity Notes
R-7. Approximately 4-12 examples survive.
Cross References
Judd-859, Pollock-940
External References
Error Varieties
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