1882 Proof Quarter Pattern - J-1699

Coin Details

Auction Record

$31,725 PR66+ 04-24-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

Copper striking of the Shield Earring quarter pattern, sharing identical obverse and reverse dies with the silver J-1698 but struck on a copper planchet with a reeded edge. Morgan's design translates beautifully onto the warmer copper metal, with the shield-shaped earring, Liberty's hair detail, and the eagle's feathering rendered with exceptional clarity due to copper's superior flow characteristics during the striking process. The copper version provides a complementary perspective on the Shield Earring quarter design, revealing surface textures and die polish lines that are sometimes less visible on silver strikings. Copper off-metal pattern strikings served the Philadelphia Mint as die trials, Mint Cabinet specimens, and occasional presentation pieces. The Shield Earring design in its quarter-dollar format achieves a particularly satisfying visual balance, with the portrait and eagle proportioned perfectly to the twenty-five-cent module. This copper version is rarer than the silver J-1698, with very few specimens documented in census records.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). Approximately 5-8 specimens known, making the copper version somewhat rarer than its silver counterpart.

Cross References

Judd J-1699, Pollock P-1901