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1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-948

Strike Type
1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-948

Coin Details

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

Auction Record

$5,290 PR65 01-03-2006 American Numismatic Rarities

Description

Copper with a plain edge, J-948 presents the three-star cap Liberty Head obverse and regular-issue eagle reverse in their most medallic copper expression. Specialist collectors of 1870 copper half dollar patterns prize plain-edge examples for their broad, uninterrupted rim that frames the design without the visual segmentation of edge reeding. The soft copper composition accepted the proof dies' impression with exceptional fidelity, often yielding sharper definition in Liberty's hair curls, cap stars, and the eagle's plumage than harder metals achieve from identical dies.

Rarity Notes

R-7+. Extremely rare, estimated fewer than half a dozen examples survive.

Cross References

Judd-948, Pollock-1076

External References

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