1868 $5 J-656, BN PR (PCGS#60874)
The March 2012 Baltimore Auction
- 拍卖行
- Stack's Bowers
- 批号
- 4195
- 等级
- PR66
- 价格
- 101,437
- 详细说明
- 1868 Pattern Half Eagle. Judd-656, Pollock-729. Rarity-7-. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-66 BN (NGC). 6.7 grams. 100% copper. Obverse depicts bust of Liberty facing left, with ribbon in hair inscribed LIBERTY, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with date below. Reverse has a large open wreath of laurel and oak, within which is 5 / DOLLARS / 25 / FRANCS. Notably missing are the Motto and E PLURIBUS UNUM from the obverse and reverse.<br />
The surfaces are satin smooth with tawny-tan to brown color throughout, fully faded from the original mint red. A few old specks are present, tucked into the broad dentils surrounding these handsome designs.<br />
Tied with at most two others as the finest seen by NGC or PCGS on technical terms for the Brown category. Perhaps a dozen are known in all, if indeed that many. This pattern issue was created after an international meeting brought up the proposal for a universal coinage that took place in Paris in 1867. Not surprisingly, the 5 Franc denomination was chosen from France. Although slightly lighter in weight than the $5 coin from the United States of the period, the proposal to join an international monetary guild were put forth. Dies by Anthony Paquet. Such monetary unions have been commonplace through the sweep of history, this proposal was apparently discussed but went no further at the time in the United States.<br />
<br />
<strong>Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers</strong><br />
Here is another fascinating pattern, especially so as the design is distinctive -- as opposed to a copper striking from regular Proof dies. The motifs are among just a handful of proposals for an international coinage, others being the 1879 and 1880 $4 gold Stellas, the Goloid metric coinage, and the 1874 Bickford $10.
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