1884 Proof Half Eagle Pattern - J-1736

Coin Details

Auction Record

PCGS PR65 Brown realized $32,900 (Heritage, January 2019). Described as unique.

Description

A copper trial striking of the 1884 Liberty Head half eagle, J-1736 represents the five-dollar gold denomination in the comprehensive 1884 pattern series. The half eagle had been the workhorse of American gold coinage since its introduction in 1795, serving as a convenient denomination for both domestic transactions and international payments. The Liberty Head design in use since 1839 featured a coronet-style Liberty on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, a format that would continue through 1908. Heritage Auctions has described the sole confirmed surviving specimen as one of the finest copper pattern strikings from the Charles Barber era, noting its exceptional surface preservation. The half eagle's moderate size — roughly 21.6 millimeters in diameter — made it the most practical gold denomination for everyday commerce, and its patterns accordingly document a design that millions of Americans would have encountered in daily transactions. Copper impressions from the gold denominations are consistently among the rarest entries in any year's pattern output, as the Mint had less reason to produce test pieces for designs that were performing well in production.

Rarity Notes

R-8 (Extremely Rare). unique. The sole confirmed example has been graded PR65 Brown by PCGS.

Cross References

Judd J-1736, Pollock P-1947