1838 Half Dollar

HBCC#:

6007

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

73

Pollock#:

77

Mint Director Robert Maskell Patterson desired to have the entire spectrum of United States coinage redesigned, keeping Christian Gobrecht quite busy. In 1838, a series of half dollar patterns was prepared, combining various designs for both obverse and reverse. Basic characteristics were common to all of these half dollar patterns. The obverse required a representation of Liberty, including the date, inscription LIBERTY, and 13 stars. The reverse was to have an eagle and the denomination, along with the statutory legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Two basic obverse designs and five reverse designs were prepared.

Provenance:

Glendining's, October 15, 1970, Lot 868; Rowe and Brownlee, November 2, 1970.

Obverse:

Draped Bust of Liberty to left, tiara and ribbon in hair, LIBERTY on ribbon, seven stars before bust, six stars behind, date below. Probably by Christian Gobrecht, although popularly attributed to William Kneass (see Narrative below).

Reverse:

Eagle flies to left, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HALF DOLLAR around the circumference.

Commentary:

"Dies upset."