1866 Dollar Patterns
Base
About This Coin
Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the inaugural year of the Reconstruction Era program, these 1866 dollar pieces tested post-Civil War concepts for a silver dollar denomination effectively dormant in domestic commerce since the 1861 suspension of specie payments. The Seated Liberty dollar was technically still produced, but all silver coins were being hoarded or exported due to precious metal premiums over depreciated paper currency. The obverse features experimental post-war designs, while the reverse tested compositions including nickel and aluminum. A notable auction result of $18K in PR66+BN at Heritage Auctions demonstrates strong demand for exceptional specimens. The 1866 dollar patterns inaugurate a period of intense silver dollar experimentation culminating in the contentious Coinage Act of 1873. They capture the opening chapter of the great silver dollar debate dominating American monetary politics for three decades, producing the Bland-Allison Act (1878), the Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890), and Bryan's famous "Cross of Gold" speech at the 1896 Democratic convention.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(2)
1866 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-540
1866 Proof Dollar Pattern - J-541
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