View All 1870 Half Dollar Patterns

1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-937

Strike Type
1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-937

Coin Details

Year
1870
Denomination
Patterns
Mint Mark
P
Strike Type
Proof
Series
Standard Silver Patterns (1870)
Composition
Other

Auction Record

$10,350 PR65 06-27-2006 Stack's

Description

Rendered in aluminum with a reeded edge, this Seated Liberty obverse and regular-issue eagle reverse half dollar pattern demonstrates the dramatic weight difference between an aluminum half dollar and its silver counterpart. Where a standard silver half dollar weighed approximately 12.44 grams, an aluminum striking of identical dimensions would weigh barely 3.5 grams, a startlingly light object that feels more like a token than a coin of the realm. The familiar eagle reverse grounding this ethereally light coin in the visual language of circulating American coinage makes the compositional experiment all the more jarring to handle.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Extremely rare, estimated 4-12 examples known. Heritage records describe this as High R-7.

Cross References

Judd-937, Pollock-1044

External References

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