1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-946

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,255 PR64 02-20-2005 Superior Galleries

Description

The plain-edge silver counterpart to J-945, this half dollar pattern pairs the three-star cap Liberty Head obverse with the familiar With Motto eagle reverse. Plain-edge silver patterns from the 1870 Standard Silver program tend to be scarcer than their reeded-edge counterparts, as the reeded versions were the primary pieces included in collector sets sold by the Mint. The combination of Barber's experimental obverse with the standard eagle reverse on a smooth-edged planchet gives this piece a distinctive character that is neither wholly traditional nor entirely novel.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Judd-946, Pollock-1074