1870 Proof Half Dime Pattern - J-814

Coin Details

Description

Featuring a modified Seated Liberty obverse with altered drapery treatment paired with a wreath reverse, J-814 was struck in the standard silver alloy. The drapery modification represents one of the subtle design refinements that Barber explored throughout the 1870 series, adjusting the flow and arrangement of Liberty's garments to achieve a different aesthetic effect. Such modifications, while minor in isolation, collectively document the iterative design process through which nineteenth-century engravers refined their compositions toward an ideal expression.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Extremely rare, approximately 4-12 examples survive.

Cross References

Judd-814, Pollock-907