1876 Half Dollar Patterns

About This Coin

Coinciding with America's centennial celebration, the 1876 Half Dollar Patterns from the Metric & Stella Patterns (1874-1879) series represent one of the most artistically ambitious chapters in pattern coin production. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the year of the great Centennial Exhibition — which drew nearly ten million visitors — these experimental half dollars tested designs that aspired to match the patriotic fervor of the nation's hundredth birthday. The obverse features experimental designs connected to the broader Stella and metric coinage program, while the reverse incorporates the five-pointed star and FOUR DOL. marking characteristic of the series. Designed by Charles E. Barber (Flowing Hair) and George T. Morgan (Coiled Hair), these patterns showcase the talents of two engravers who would create some of the most iconic coin designs in American history — Barber's eponymous 1892 series and Morgan's silver dollar of 1878. For pattern collectors, the centennial-year half dollar patterns combine experimental denomination appeal with historical resonance and the artistic vision of two celebrated engravers.