(1977-78) Dollar Pattern - RB-1055, GOULD

Coin Details

Description

Reed-Brenner 1055 is a Gould Inc. dollar-sized experimental pattern closely related to RB-1050 and RB-1060, forming a trio of alloys in the mid-range of the Gould catalog. The tight clustering of catalog numbers (1050, 1055, 1060) indicates that these three compositions represent fine-tuned variations of a single base alloy, with each differing by small adjustments in the proportion of one or more constituent metals. This kind of systematic variation was essential to the metallurgical research underlying the experimental program: by producing test pieces across a narrow compositional range, Gould's engineers could map the precise relationship between alloy chemistry and the physical properties that mattered most to the Mint — hardness, ductility, color stability, and electromagnetic response. The closely spaced RB numbers in this range suggest that Gould had identified a promising base composition and was optimizing it through controlled variation.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Very rare. NGC census records an image for this piece, suggesting at least one specimen has been professionally certified.

Cross References

Reed-Brenner RB-1055; Gould Inc. experimental program; cf. RB-1050/RB-1060 (closely related alloy variants)