1915 Quarter Pattern - J-C1915-2, Reverse

Coin Details

Description

This privately-produced uniface quarter pattern shows only a reverse design, dating to 1915 — one of the most significant years in American coin design history. In 1916, the US Mint would introduce three landmark new designs: the Mercury dime by Adolph Weinman, the Standing Liberty quarter by Hermon MacNeil, and the Walking Liberty half dollar, also by Weinman. These changes were the culmination of President Theodore Roosevelt's campaign to beautify American coinage, which had begun with the 1907 Saint-Gaudens gold coins. This privately-struck reverse pattern represents an unofficial design proposal for the quarter dollar produced outside the Mint, created at a time when public discussion about new coin designs was at its peak. The uniface nature of this piece — struck from only the reverse die — indicates it was a presentation impression intended to showcase the reverse design independently. The piece is cataloged with a "C" prefix in the Judd reference, marking it as a privately-issued item rather than an official Mint production. It shares the same NGC identification number as the companion obverse piece (J-C1915-A), indicating the two dies were created as a matching pair even though they were struck and cataloged separately.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Privately-issued patterns from 1915 are known in only a handful of specimens.

Cross References

Judd-C1915-2; Pollock-5185