1896 Proof Cent Pattern - J-1768b

Coin Details

Description

Judd-1768b is a proof pattern cent struck in yet another experimental alloy, the third compositional variant under the J-1768 design. Like its siblings J-1768 and J-1768a, this piece carries Charles Barber's shield obverse with thirteen stripes, LIBERTY scroll, crossed poles with Phrygian cap and eagle, E PLURIBUS UNUM above, and the date 1896, paired with the ONE CENT olive-sprig reverse. The "b" suffix designates a further alloy variation tested during the 1896 program, differing from J-1768 and J-1768a in the precise proportions of copper, nickel, zinc, or other metals. The multiplicity of variants under a single Judd number reflects the exhaustive nature of the congressional mandate to evaluate every plausible alternative to the existing bronze cent composition. Fifteen different alloys tested across both cent and five-cent denominations produced a matrix of results documenting each metal's behavior under Mint striking conditions — including hardness, die wear, detail definition, toning characteristics, and resistance to corrosion. The suffix variants (a, b) typically survive in smaller numbers than the primary Judd entries, as they represent individual experimental compositions that received only the minimum ten-piece production run. This piece provides tangible evidence of late-nineteenth-century metallurgical experimentation at the United States Mint.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Fewer than 7 examples exist. Extremely scarce alloy variant.

Cross References

Judd J-1768b, Pollock P-1984a