1870 Proof Quarter Pattern - J-889

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,325 PR67 02-23-2005 Heritage Auctions

Description

The plain-edge silver companion to J-888, this Liberty Head quarter pattern with three-star cap and STANDARD wreath reverse was struck from the same die pair but without edge reeding. The Liberty Head design with its forward-facing Phrygian cap represents a neoclassical aesthetic that drew on both ancient Roman symbolism and contemporary French coinage design. Barber's placement of IN GOD WE TRUST on a scroll below the bust rather than on the reverse was a notable design choice, centralizing the motto on the same face as the national identity expressed through UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Judd-889, Pollock-988