(1977-78) Dollar Pattern - RB-1050, GOULD

Coin Details

Description

Reed-Brenner 1050 is a Gould Inc. dollar-sized experimental pattern testing a copper-nickel alloy formulation in the middle range of the RB-1000 series. The Gould experimental program operated within the broader context of the Mint's comprehensive search for the ideal small dollar composition. Congress had mandated a smaller dollar coin to replace the unwieldy Eisenhower dollar, but the technical requirements were formidable. The new coin needed to function reliably in vending machines calibrated for quarters and half dollars, which meant its electromagnetic signature had to be sufficiently different from both denominations. It also needed to withstand the rigors of heavy circulation — the Mint projected that a small dollar would circulate far more actively than the Eisenhower, which had functioned primarily as a casino and collector coin. Gould's RB-1050 alloy was one of many compositions tested against these exacting requirements, with each test piece providing data points that fed into the Mint's final alloy selection process.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Very rare. No NGC census image available, indicating minimal certified population.

Cross References

Reed-Brenner RB-1050; Gould Inc. experimental program; cf. RB-1055/RB-1060 (adjacent Gould dollar compositions)