Undated (1859) Pattern Silver Dollar. Uniface Obverse Die Trial. Judd-A1859-7, Pollock-3227. White Metal. Plain Edge. MS-61 (PCGS).This is an obverse device punch die trial that features a version of James Barton Longacres French Liberty Head as seen on 1859 pattern half dollars, Judd-237 through Judd-246. The device punch used here is larger, however, suitable for a silver dollar, and the ribbon crossing Libertys neck is plain instead of bearing the word LIBERTY. Other minor differences in the portrait are also apparent. Both sides of this piece exhibit warm silver gray patina, the portrait sharply defined throughout. Scattered handling marks are noted, a small concentration of these in the right obverse field useful for provenance purposes. The Judd and Pollock pattern references, as well as the website emuspatterns.com/em, account for only three specimens of this rare and intriguing type. A find for the advanced collector that should see spirited bidding at auction.Ex 1958 ANA; Stephen K. Nagy; our (Bowers and Merenas) Ebenezer Milton Saunders Collection sale, November 1987, lot 485; Superiors sale of June 1988, lot 4783; Heritages FUN Signature Auction of January 2008, lot 3507; Heritages West Palm Beach Signature Auction of June 2008, lot 1759; Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of April 2012, lot 6308.
