1915 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-1792/1962

Coin Details

Auction Record

$15,400 PR63 08-14-1996 Heritage Auctions

Description

The second dual-numbered Pan-Pacific half dollar pattern, cataloged as both J-1792 and 1962. This proof striking presents another design proposal for the exposition's half dollar denomination, offering an alternative to the J-1791 concept and to the design ultimately selected for production. The 1915 Panama-Pacific half dollar design competition attracted significant attention from the artistic community and the Commission of Fine Arts, which had been established in 1910 to advise on federal design matters and was increasingly asserting its authority over coin designs. The Commission's involvement marked a shift away from the Mint's traditional practice of allowing the Chief Engraver to control design decisions, introducing outside artistic judgment into the process. Multiple half dollar patterns from this period reflect the Commission's preference for evaluating several competing designs before making a recommendation. J-1792 differs from J-1791 in its die pairing, presenting a distinct combination of obverse and reverse elements drawn from the Pan-Pacific commemorative theme. The dual numbering system reflects the evolution of pattern coin cataloging, with different scholars assigning independent reference numbers to the same physical piece.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). Half dollar pattern varieties from the Pan-Pacific series are individually very scarce.

Cross References

Judd J-1792, also cataloged as 1962