1916 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-1993

Coin Details

Auction Record

$92,000 PR61 07-27-2008 Stack's

Description

A proof pattern for Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar, cataloged as J-1993 in the Judd reference. This pattern is part of the sequence immediately preceding J-1994, the primary catalog entry most closely associated with the adopted Walking Liberty design. The proximity in numbering indicates J-1993 may represent a near-final design variant — differing only in minor details of die preparation or surface treatment from the version that would enter production. The Walking Liberty design drew explicit praise from the Commission of Fine Arts for its departure from the static, bust-format portraiture that had dominated American coinage for over a century. Commissioner Frank Millet wrote that Weinman's design captured "the spirit of the country" through its dynamic composition, a sentiment echoed by Commission chairman Charles Moore. The design's artistic success was all the more remarkable given the technical constraints of coin production: every element had to be rendered in low enough relief to allow high-speed striking, yet detailed enough to convey the sculptor's artistic intent. J-1993 documents the penultimate stage of this balancing act.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). Late-sequence Walking Liberty patterns are very scarce.

Cross References

Judd J-1993, Pollock P-2185