1879 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-1602a

Coin Details

Description

Proof half dollar pattern struck in 1879, the culminating year of the metric coinage movement, highlighted by the famous Stella ($4 gold) patterns and final goloid dollar experiments before the program was abandoned. This proof striking in silver or goloid is part of the half dollar design and composition experiments, with many varieties testing goloid metric alloys combining silver, gold, and copper conducted at the Philadelphia Mint under Chief Engraver William Barber. The letter suffix indicates a different composition or die state from the base J-1602 variety.

Rarity Notes

R-6 to R-7 (Very Rare to Extremely Rare). Half dollar patterns from the goloid metric series survive in small numbers.

Cross References

Judd J-1602a, Pollock P-1747a