1859 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-249, Pollock-288. Rarity-7+. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-63 (PCGS).Obv: Anthony C. Paquets seated Liberty motif. Liberty is seated left, her outstretched right hand supporting a fasces and her left hand supporting a shield. An olive sprig and three arrows are present at the base of the shield. Thirteen stars encircle the periphery and the date 1859 is below. The digits 185 in the date are repunched. Rev: A wreath of cereals encloses the denomination 1/2 DOLLAR. Semi-reflective fields form a splendid backdrop to sharply struck, frosty devices on both sides of this lovely Choice Proof. Otherwise silver-tinged surfaces exhibit a splash of vivid reddish-russet and cobalt blue iridescence along the upper obverse border. Extensive die rust pitting around the reverse periphery confirms this coin as a restrike from the 1870s, at which time they were made expressly for sale to contemporary collectors. Judd-249 is scarce today with fewer than half a dozen specimens believed extant.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection.
