1091

Lot 1091 - 1859 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, reeded edge PCGS PR63

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Lot 1091 - 1859 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, reeded edge PCGS PR63
1859 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, reeded edge J-239. On October 25, 1859, Mint Director Snowden wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury strongly recommending the adoption of "Newlin's 'Wreath of Cereals' composed of cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, corn, wheat and oak leaves, which was deliberately designed to admit perfect striking of the head on the obverse." He stated that the eagle on the reverse of the present seated Liberty coins made it difficult to bring up properly the seated Liberty design on the obverse.

Engraver James Longacre prepared reverse dies for the half dime and dime and half dollar patterns with three different reverses using this "cereal" wreath. Newlin's wreath was adopted for only the half dime and dime, but many collectors prefer the fuller wreath used on this Judd-239 half dollar. The obverse Liberty head is also Longacre's and shows outstanding detail in the hair and leaf ornamentation.
(#11972)