1871 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-1109, Pollock-1245. Rarity-7-. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-65+ RD Ultra Cameo (NGC).Obv: Liberty is seated left with the date 1871 below. Liberty is wearing a feathered headdress, her right hand supporting a liberty pole and her left hand resting on a globe inscribed LIBERTY. There are two flags behind the portrait, one of which is ornamented with 13 stars. Rev: The same design that the Mint used to strike regular issue 1871 Liberty Seated half dollars. This is a breathtakingly beautiful coin, both sides with vivid cobalt blue iridescence at the rims that gives way to equally appealing bright pinkish-rose color elsewhere. The fields are deeply mirrored, highly reflective, and form a splendid backdrop to satiny, fully impressed devices. Free of even trivial blemishes, this pristine-looking beauty would serve as a highlight in even the finest collection of pattern and related coinage. Examples of this type were sold to contemporary collectors as part of pattern Proof sets featuring this design, half dime through silver dollar. According to the website uspatterns.com, only a half dozen or so examples of Judd-1109 are extant, and this is certainly one of the finest available to todays discerning collectors.Combined PCGS and NGC Population: just 1 in all grades in the Deep/Ultra Cameo category.
