1877 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-1540, Pollock-1711A. Unique. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-62 (PCGS).strongObv: /strongbust of Liberty facing left, with hair in a bun and wearing a star tiara inscribed LIBERTY, stars surround and date below. Notably the truncation line shows more curvature than commonly seen, and the face of Liberty is more expressive, both confirming the hand of Anthony C. Pacquet as opposed to Morgan or Barber.pstrongRev: /stronga simple eagle with outstretched wings, grasping E PLURIBUS UNUM in its beak on a waving ribbon. Clutching below are arrows and branch, with legends and abbreviated denomination below. Surmounting the eagles breast is a simple, boxy shield.pFully brilliant surfaces are lightly hairlined and contrast nicely against heavily frosted devices. A few contact marks here and there serve as pedigree markers for this unique surviving specimen from the second set of dies supplied by Anthony Paquet. The first pair of dies broke quickly and all known examples from those dies display a prominent die crack extending from stars 5 through 1, the date, and extending into stars 12 and 13. Aside from the absence of the die crack, the date positioning relative to the point of the bust is also different between the two sets of dies. Harry Bass is credited with discovering the existence of the second set of dies because of this piece, and the passage of time has failed to unseat it from its unique status. Objectively more attractive without the die crack, we expect pattern collectors will eagerly pursue this impressive specimen with a robust pedigree.From Abe Kosoffs sale featuring the Michael F. Higgy Collection, September 1943; C.E. Monroe; our sale of the Armand Champa Collection, May 1972, lot 1079; Harry Bass; our sale of the Harry Bass, Jr. Collection, May 1999, lot 1241; Heritages July 2010 sale, lot 4493; Our March 2012 sale, lot 4228; Holabird-Kagins sale December 2012; and Scotsmans sale of October 2013.
