(1977-78) Dollar Pattern - RB-1500, GOULD

Coin Details

Description

Reed-Brenner 1500 opens the final fine-resolution cluster in the Gould dollar pattern series, alongside RB-1505, RB-1510, and RB-1515. This four-piece group at five-unit spacing mirrors the RB-1350-1360 cluster, indicating that the RB-1500 range represents a second zone of optimized composition that Gould considered particularly promising. The existence of two fine-resolution clusters (1350-1360 and 1500-1515) in the Gould program indicates the company presented the Mint with at least two strong candidate alloys, each refined to a high degree. The RB-1500 cluster is slightly broader than the 1350-1360 group, spanning fifteen units (1500 to 1515) compared to ten units (1350 to 1360), which may indicate that the optimal zone was slightly wider in this compositional range or that additional variants were worth testing.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Very rare. NGC census records an image for this piece.

Cross References

Reed-Brenner RB-1500; Gould Inc. experimental program; cf. RB-1505/RB-1510/RB-1515 (fine-resolution cluster); cf. RB-1350-1360 (analogous fine cluster in the 1300 family)