1863 Pattern Dollar. J-346, P-418. Rarity-7+. Proof-64 BN (NGC). CAC.A highly desirable example of a prohibitively rare type, the lovely light chocolate satiny surfaces transition into darker areas with hints of steel blue throughout with only a tiny light gold spot in the dentils near the date. A coin that was carefully preserved and free of any detracting marks and a certain highlight of any pattern connoisseurs holdings.Mint Director Henry R. Linderman was an avid numismatist in his own right and often used his position to create numismatic delicacies for his own collection as well as to order, unlike previous directors who were reluctant to do so. Soon after he took office, there was an explosion in the varieties of patterns, from true patterns and experimental trial coins to fantasies pairing unlikely dies and off-metal strikes. The so-called transitional dollars all employed a standard silver dollar obverse die dated 1863 but was paired with a standard 1866-1891 with motto reverse die. Despite the 1863 date, these coins were struck sometime in the late 1860s and early 1870s well after the introduction of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to the nations circulating coinage. They were not produced singly but rather as part of denomination sets in three metals: silver (Judd-345), copper (Judd-346, as here), and aluminum (Judd 347). The number produced is not recorded, but all are of exceptional rarity. Saul Teichman has written that about a dozen examples of J-346 each are known, though the latest thought is that may be at the high end and may be closer to half that number. With so few examples produced, appearances at auction are equally rare and opportunities such as this are fleeting.From the Samuel J. Berngard Collection.
