1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-949

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

The 1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-949 is a proof half dollar pattern struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Standard Silver Patterns (1870) series. It belongs to the 1870 Standard Silver patterns, the lighter silver coins that Mint Director James Pollock proposed in his report for 1869 as a replacement for the fractional paper notes, and the Mint again sold sets of them to collectors for $15. On this obverse Liberty faces right in a cap bearing two stars, with LIBERTY in raised letters on the ribbon; USPatterns.com believes these were struck from the 1870 die, with the tip of the cap under the S of STATES. Its reverse is the new design of 1870: the denomination and the date sit inside an open wreath of cotton and corn, with STANDARD in small letters at the top. Two or three are known, among them a corroded example. It is struck in aluminum with a reeded edge. USPatterns.com rates it R-8. It is also catalogued as Pollock-1078 and Taxay EP756. Cataloged as PCGS #61195.

Rarity Notes

R-8 (USPatterns.com)

Cross References

Judd-949; Pollock-1078; Taxay EP756