1870 Proof Half Dollar Pattern - J-940
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$5,640 PR66+ 03-08-2018 Kagin's
Description
The plain-edge silver companion to J-939, this Liberty Head half dollar pattern with three-star cap and STANDARD wreath reverse was struck from the same die pair but without edge reeding. The tip of Liberty's cap falls under the center of the second S in STATES, a positioning detail that specialists use to authenticate this variety. The Liberty Head design with its forward-facing Phrygian cap represents a neoclassical aesthetic that drew on both ancient Roman symbolism and contemporary French coinage design. Barber's placement of IN GOD WE TRUST on a scroll below the bust was a notable compositional choice, centralizing the motto on the same face as the national identity. Cataloged as PCGS #61186.
Rarity Notes
R-7. Extremely rare, estimated fewer than a dozen examples survive.
Cross References
Judd-940, Pollock-1053
External References
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