1870 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-1012

Coin Details

Auction Record

$23,000 PR65 01-03-2006 American Numismatic Rarities

Description

An aluminum striking of the Liberty Head obverse with STANDARD wreath reverse and reeded edge, J-1012 pushes the experimental boundaries of the dollar denomination to their limit. The Liberty Head portrait, designed for the density and flow characteristics of silver, produces subtly different detail rendering in aluminum: high points may appear sharper due to the metal's lower resistance, while recessed areas can show reduced depth compared to silver impressions. These aluminum dollar patterns are among the scarcest in the entire 1870 Standard Silver program, with very few examples having survived to the present day.

Rarity Notes

R-8. Very rare to unique, approximately 2-3 examples known.

Cross References

Judd-1012, Pollock-1146