1838 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-72, Pollock-75. Rarity-5. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-63 (PCGS). CAC.Medallic alignment. Obv: A bust of Liberty faces left with a sunburst on her tiara, raised LIBERTY on her hair ribbon and brooch at shoulder. Thirteen stars are arranged around the border seven left, six right, with the date 1838 below. Rev: Fanciful small eagle clutches an olive branch in its right talon and a group of four arrows in its left talon. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around the border and the denomination HALF DOLLAR below. Vivid cobalt blue and reddish-russet peripheral toning rings both sides and frames brilliant centers. The finish is highly reflective, and the strike is razor sharp apart from a touch of softness to the central high points. The website uspatterns.com notes the following for Judd-72:Kneasss draped Liberty design combined with Gobrechts standing eagle....These supposedly exist as both originals and restrikes. Originals should have been struck from unrusted dies, weigh 206 grains and have 143 reeds around the edge. Restrikes were made throughout the 1840s possibly into the early 1870s. As these dies were used over a long period of time, specimens show varying degrees of repolishing and/or die rust. Those made after 1853 should weigh 192 grains. Reed counts may vary on these and thus could possibly be used to determine what year a given piece was struck.Per the Pollock reference on pattern and experimental coins, the present example struck in medallic alignment qualifies as a restrike. This lot includes a custom white plastic holder the housed the coin prior to its certification by PCGS for inclusion in this sale. The holder is printed THE BLEVINS & BODWAY / COLLECTIONS SALE / JUNE 1988 / PATTERN / HALF DOLLAR. The holder and its box are available to the winning bidder upon request to Stacks Bowers Galleries at the close of the auction.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. Earlier from Superiors H.W. Blevins Estate and George Bodway Collection Sale, June 1988, lot 5838. Lot tag included.
