1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-935
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$6,900 PR65 10-13-2011 Heritage Auctions
Description
Copper with a reeded edge, J-935 carries the standard Seated Liberty obverse paired with the regular-issue With Motto eagle reverse. The juxtaposition of a base-metal composition with the familiar half dollar reverse creates a striking cognitive dissonance: the reverse announces this as a United States half dollar, yet the copper planchet contradicts that identity. These off-metal strikings were prized by pattern collectors of the period, who assembled complete compositional sets documenting every metal in which a given die pair was employed. The copper's superior malleability under striking pressure often produces sharper detail than silver from the same dies. Cataloged as PCGS #61181.
Rarity Notes
R-6+. Rare, estimated 12-20 examples survive.
Cross References
Judd-935, Pollock-1041
External References
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