1877 Pattern Dime. Judd-1498, Pollock-1651. Rarity-7-. Silver-Plated Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-62 (PCGS).38.6 grains. Obv: A bust of Liberty faces left with 13 stars around the border and the date 1877 below. Liberty is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, and her hair is tied back with a ribbon. This motif is similar to William Barbers famous Sailor Head design of 1875. Rev: The same design that the Mint used to strike regular issue 1877 Liberty Seated dimes. A generally silver white specimen with the underlying copper peering through in isolated areas on both sides. Universally reflective in finish. This is a rare type with only eight copper impressions confirmed, per the website uspatterns.com. Two examples have been silvered, including the coin offered here.From The Gene Wolfe Collection Of Pattern Dimes. Earlier ex Dr. J. Hewitt Judd; Gene H. Wolfe, acquired either from Goliad Coins or Julian Leidman, circa 1971; Heritages sale of the Gene Wolfe Collection of Pattern Coinage, January 2000 FUN Signature Sale, lot 5622; Heritages Long Beach Signature Sale of September 2003, lot 8674.
