1907 Proof Double Eagle Pattern - J-1779/1917

Coin Details

Description

Judd-1779 represents another experimental double eagle variant in the extensive 1907 Saint-Gaudens pattern series, cataloged as PCGS 1917. This pattern carries design or striking characteristics that distinguish it from the J-1776 through J-1778 sequence, potentially reflecting a later stage in the design refinement process as the Mint worked toward finalizing the production version. By mid-1907, the conflict between Saint-Gaudens' artistic aspirations and the Mint's production requirements had reached its peak. Saint-Gaudens, gravely ill with cancer, continued to press for the highest possible relief through correspondence while Barber and Mint Director Frank Leach managed the practical realities of coin production. The obverse features Saint-Gaudens' striding Liberty and the reverse his soaring eagle, but the specific die characteristics — relief height, field contour, rim profile, and device sharpness — distinguish this from earlier experimental strikings. Each variant in the J-1776 through J-1779 sequence documents a specific configuration that was struck, evaluated, and either modified or abandoned on the path to the adopted production design.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Most 1907 double eagle pattern varieties are known in fewer than a dozen specimens.

Cross References

Judd J-1779, also PCGS P-1917