1870 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-997

Coin Details

Auction Record

$12,650 PR64 04-27-2011 Heritage Auctions

Description

Sharing the same Seated Liberty obverse and STANDARD wreath reverse as J-996, this dollar pattern differs only in its plain edge treatment. The absence of reeding on a dollar-sized coin represented a deliberate departure from convention, as silver dollars had carried reeded edges since the earliest Flowing Hair issues of 1794. Plain-edge strikings allowed Mint officials to evaluate whether the proposed standard silver alloy required the anti-counterfeiting protection that reeding provided, or whether the alloy's distinctive composition would itself serve as an authentication feature.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Extremely rare, approximately 4-12 examples survive. Low R-7 per some references.

Cross References

Judd-997, Pollock-1128