1885 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-1750a

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,520 PR60 01-29-1996 Superior Galleries

Description

Judd-1750a is a composition variant of the J-1750 Morgan dollar pattern, struck from the same standard 1885 Morgan dollar dies but in a different alloy — typically listed as a distinct white metal or lead composition with a reeded edge. As with J-1750, the obverse features George T. Morgan's Liberty head and the reverse his heraldic eagle. The letter suffix "a" in the Judd catalog denotes a die-state or composition variant from the base J-1750 variety, and distinguishing between the two can require careful examination of weight, specific gravity, and surface characteristics. Some catalogers have noted subtle differences in the coloring and heft of J-1750a specimens compared to J-1750, suggesting a slightly different alloy formulation. These minute compositional variations were typical of mid-1880s pattern production, where the Mint would strike small numbers of pieces in whatever planchets were readily available, without strict quality controls on alloy purity. The practical numismatic significance of differentiating J-1750 from J-1750a is largely academic, as both are extreme rarities with essentially identical designs and edge treatments. Together with J-1747, J-1748, J-1749, J-1750, and J-1751, this piece rounds out the six-variety 1885 Morgan dollar pattern series.

Rarity Notes

R-8. Only 1 to 3 specimens believed extant. Compositional variant of J-1750.

Cross References

Judd J-1750a, Pollock P-1963a