Design Reform Patterns (1880-1942)

Coin Series

About This Series

Documenting six decades of American coinage design evolution, these patterns represent the Mint's experiments with modernized imagery, updated compositions, and refined techniques. The series encompasses William and Charles Barber's proposals of the 1880s-1890s, George Morgan's alternative designs, Augustus Saint-Gaudens' revolutionary 1907 ultra high relief experiments, and pattern work leading to the 1916 design revolution introducing Weinman's Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half alongside MacNeil's Standing Liberty quarter. The Judd catalog assigns individual numbers organized by denomination and variation. Many exist in extremely limited quantities — some unique — produced for evaluation by Mint officials and Congressional committees rather than public distribution. Key entries include the 1877 Morgan half dollar patterns preceding his dollar design, Shield Earring Liberty Head modifications of the 1880s, and rejected 1916 competition designs. These patterns reveal that behind every adopted design lies a trail of rejected alternatives, each documenting an artistic path not taken.

About This Series

Browse by Base(72 bases)

1880 Dollar Patterns

1880 Double Eagle Patterns

1880 Four Dollar Patterns

1880 Half Eagle Patterns

1881 Cent Patterns

1881 Nickel Patterns

1881 Three Cent Patterns

1882 Dollar Patterns

1882 Half Dollar Patterns

1882 Nickel Patterns

1882 Quarter Patterns

1883 Dollar Patterns

1883 Nickel Patterns

1884 Cent Patterns

1884 Dime Patterns

1884 Dollar Patterns

1884 Double Eagle Patterns

1884 Eagle Patterns

1884 Half Dollar Patterns

1884 Half Eagle Patterns

1884 Nickel Patterns

1884 Quarter Eagle Patterns

1884 Quarter Patterns

1884 Three Dollar Patterns

1885 Cent Patterns

1885 Dime Patterns

1885 Dollar Patterns

1885 Double Eagle Patterns

1885 Eagle Patterns

1885 Half Dollar Patterns

1885 Half Eagle Patterns

1885 Nickel Patterns

1885 Quarter Eagle Patterns

1885 Quarter Patterns

1885 Three Cent Patterns

1885 Three Dollar Patterns

1889 Three Dollar Patterns

1890 Cent Patterns

1891 Dime Patterns

1891 Half Dollar Patterns

1891 Quarter Patterns

1896 Cent Patterns

1896 Nickel Patterns

1906 Double Eagle Patterns

1907 Double Eagle Patterns

1907 Eagle Patterns

1908 Double Eagle Patterns

1908 Half Eagle Patterns

1908 Quarter Eagle Patterns

1909 Cent Patterns

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