1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-979
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$8,225 PR65 08-08-2013 Heritage Auctions
Description
Pairing the open-wreath coronet Liberty Head obverse with the regular With Motto eagle reverse, J-979 tests whether Barber's restrained diadem portrait could integrate smoothly with the familiar half dollar eagle that had circulated since 1866. Struck in aluminum with a reeded edge, this combination placed Barber's neoclassical portrait on the obverse of what the reverse proclaimed to be an official United States half dollar. The diadem design's clean lines and uncluttered composition made it arguably the most modern-looking obverse in the entire 1870 pattern series.
Rarity Notes
R-8. Very rare, estimated 3 or fewer examples known.
Cross References
Judd-979, Pollock-1091
External References
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