1839 Half Dollar

HBCC#:

6011

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

91

Pollock#:

101

In 1839 the pattern half dollar experiment continued with several new obverse design concepts. This pattern issue has Miss Liberty facing right, completely opposite the standard orientation, causing a second glance. The reverse features an eagle flying “onward and upward.” The reverse die is severely cracked with the late die state suggesting that this is a Restrike, probably minted circa 1859. This identical coin is the plate coin for United States Patterns and Related Issues by Andrew W. Pollock, III. Only five or six examples of this variety are known.

Provenance:

RARCOA's Auction '81 sale, July 23, 1981, Lot 323.

Obverse:

Stylized head of Liberty to right, hair in bun, long curl on neck, 13 stars around, date below bust. A coronet in her hair reads LIBERTY.

Reverse:

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

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