1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-962

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,400 PR64 05-29-1992 Bowers & Merena

Description

Sharing the same Liberty Head coronet obverse and STANDARD agricultural wreath reverse as J-961, this aluminum half dollar pattern differs only in its plain edge. The plain-edge variant allowed Mint officials to evaluate how the lightweight aluminum planchet performed without the additional die-work of edge reeding. At barely one-third the weight of a silver half dollar, an aluminum striking with a smooth edge felt almost weightless in the hand, underscoring how dramatically different Linderman's proposed standard silver coins would have been from the hefty Seated Liberty halves then in circulation.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Judd-962, Pollock-1115