1872 Commercial Dollar

HBCC#:

6099

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

1214

Pollock#:

1355

Before his death in 1869, James Longacre created the attractive Indian Princess design used on silver patterns in 1870 and 1871. This copy die is attributed to William Barber and is essentially the same design, with very slight modifications. The globe appears to have stronger geographical features. The concept of a “commercial dollar” is related to the more widely-recognized trade dollar that was in production from 1873 to 1878 and beyond. Congress believed that a silver coin equal in size and value to the Mexican peso was necessary to facilitate trade with the Orient.

Provenance:

From RARCOA's sale of the Harry X Boosel Collection, April 1972, Lot 1134.

Obverse:

Longacre's "Indian Princess" design, here seated to left, liberty pole and cap in right hand, left hand on globe, Western Hemisphere depicted on globe, ribbon on globe reads LIBERTY, furled flags behind Liberty, 13 stars around, date below.

Reverse:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs above a laurel wreath, COMMERCIAL DOLLAR 420 GRS. 900 FINE on four lines within wreath, ribbon at bottom of wreath reads GOD OUR TRUST.

Commentary: