1875 Proof Half Eagle Pattern - J-1439

Coin Details

Auction Record

$21,850 PR63 08-11-2006 American Numismatic Rarities

Description

The 1875 Proof Half Eagle Pattern - J-1439 is a proof Gold Half Eagle struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Metric & Stella Patterns (1874-1879) series. The obverse features experimental designs including the famous Stella ($4 gold piece) featuring Liberty with flowing hair or coiled hair and the reverse displays a five-pointed star containing the denomination FOUR DOL.. Minted during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, as the nation healed from civil war and debated the role of silver and gold in the monetary system. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements prized by collectors. Struck at the original U.S. Mint facility, in continuous operation since 1792. Auction record: $21,850 PR63 08-11-2006 American Numismatic Rarities. Struck in copper. Cataloged as PCGS #61746.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Gold denomination patterns from this era are among the rarest, with most varieties known in fewer than ten specimens.

Cross References

Judd J-1439, Pollock P-1584