1885 Proof Cent Pattern - J-1740

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,750 • PR45 PCGS • 01-2008 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Judd-1740 is a distinctive annular or ring-shaped cent pattern from 1885, one of the periodic revivals of the holey cent concept that had been explored intermittently since the 1850s. The obverse features UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date 1885 arranged around a central hole surrounded by denticles, with a circle of thirteen stars filling the remaining field. The reverse displays the denomination FIVE CENTS beneath the shield of the United States flanked by laurel branches, also arranged around the central perforation. Despite the reverse reading FIVE CENTS, this piece is cataloged as a cent pattern — a curiosity that may reflect die muling or deliberate experimental pairing. Struck in copper-nickel with a plain edge, this pattern revisits the holey cent concept that Joseph Peale and others had proposed as a way to reduce metal costs while maintaining a coin large enough for convenient handling. The ring format had been explored extensively in the 1849-1852 and 1884-1885 periods, with the central hole theoretically allowing a smaller planchet to approximate the diameter of a standard cent. While never adopted for production, these annular patterns remain popular with collectors for their unusual appearance and the ingenuity they represent in addressing the perennial challenge of cent composition and size.

Rarity Notes

High R-6. Approximately 10 to 15 specimens estimated across all die states.

Cross References

Judd J-1740, Pollock P-1950