1877 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-1524, Pollock-1692. Rarity-7-. Silver.

Stunning Judd-1524 Pattern Liberty Head Half Dollar Unique First Obverse Die Strike in Silver, Pollock-1692 1877 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-1524, Pollock-1692. Rarity-7-. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-65 (PCGS). Obv: Designed by William Barber, a Liberty head faces left with 13 stars around the border and the date 1877 below; the second digit 7 in the date is close to the denticles. Liberty is wearing a cap inscribed LIBERTY and decorated with ears of wheat, cotton leaves and bolls. Rev: A small eagle with spread wings is displayed on a shield with an olive sprig in its right talon and three arrows in its left talon. Around the shield is a band inscribed with the mottos IN GOD WE TRUST above, E PLURIBUS UNUM below. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is inscribed along the upper border and the denomination HALF DOLLAR is at the lower border. This striking Gem Proof is toned in dominant steely-olive gray patina, the obverse with enhancing golden-blue and pinkish-rose iridescence, the reverse with soft underlying champagne-gold and powder blue. Well struck, if trivially soft at the central obverse high points, with strong reflectivity shining forth from smooth surfaces as the coin rotates under a light. The design is attributed to William Barber, and the obverse also appears on the pattern goloid dollars of 1878 to 1880. Two die varieties are known, distinguished primarily by the distance of the second digit 7 in the date from the denticles. The Rarity-7- rating for the basic Judd-1524 attribution is due to the fact that there are seven specimens confirmed for Pollock-1690, the second die prepared by Barber (per the uspatterns.com website), with the digit 7 distant from the denticles. Pollock-1692, Barber's first die, with the second digit 7 in the date close to the denticles, is unique in silver, offered here, and also unique in copper, Judd-1525/Pollock1693. A fantastic opportunity for the advanced collector that may not come along again for many years, if not decades. Provenance: Ex Dr. Edward Maris, June 1886; T. Harrison Garrett, to Robert and John Work Garrett, by descent, 1888; Robert Garrett interest to John Work Garrett, 1919, transfer completed 1921; John Work Garrett to The Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, Part I, November 1979, lot 388; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part I, May 1999, lot 1228, as PCGS Proof-64; Bob R. Simpson; Heritage's sale of the Bob R. Simpson Collection, January 2021 FUN Signature Auction, lot 3232. PCGS Population (all categories): 1; 0 finer. PCGS# 61864. NGC ID: 2AE9. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

Estimate:£0.74

View all items fromStack's BowersorCoins & Banknotes