1915 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-1793a-2/1965

Coin Details

Description

The second sub-variety of the J-1793a Pan-Pacific dollar pattern, sharing the alternative catalog number 1965 with sub-variety 1, indicating the two share obverse and reverse die designs but differ in composition, edge treatment, or striking characteristics. The differentiation between sub-varieties in early twentieth-century pattern coinage often reflects the Mint's practice of testing a single design concept across multiple metal compositions — silver, copper, aluminum, or gilt copper — to evaluate how each material rendered the design's fine details. The Panama-Pacific Exposition generated an unprecedented level of public and Congressional interest in commemorative coinage, leading Mint Director Robert Woolley and Chief Engraver Charles Barber to explore denominations beyond those ultimately authorized. The dollar denomination had been a cornerstone of American coinage since 1794, and its potential inclusion in the Pan-Pacific program would have added gravitas to the commemorative series. This sub-variety documents one step in the evaluation process, preserving evidence of how the design performed in a particular metal or under specific striking conditions that distinguished it from sub-variety 1.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Individual sub-varieties within the J-1793a family are known in very small numbers.

Cross References

Judd J-1793a-2, also cataloged as 1965