1871 Pattern Dollar. Judd-1132, Pollock-1268. Rarity-8. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof. Unc Details--Scratch (PCGS).Obv: James Barton Longacres Indian Princess design with Liberty seated left, the date 1871 below. Liberty is wearing a feathered headdress, her right arm supporting a liberty pole and her left resting on a globe inscribed LIBERTY. Two flags are behind the portrait, one of which is ornamented with 13 stars. Rev: The same design that the Mint used to strike regular issue Liberty Seated silver dollars of the No Motto type (1840 to 1865). A smartly impressed specimen, we note razor sharp to full definition to virtually all design elements. The obverse is boldly double struck with considerable spread between impressions at the date, Libertys leg and foot, the corner and left base of the rock, and the liberty cap. A virtually full second date is discernible with patience. The reverse is also double struck, close inspection revealing doubling to the letters TED ST in the legend and along the denticles from 8 to 11 oclock. The surfaces have a curious golden-brown color that betrays an old cleaning, both sides with splashes of olive, russet and cobalt blue that are more extensive on the reverse. Swirls of verdigris at the liberty cap and the prominent flag behind the portrait, small carbon spot in the field below Libertys chin. A few wispy pin scratches explain the PCGS qualifier, the most prominent of which is evident in the reverse field behind Libertys portrait.This is an exceedingly rare type, the reverse die of the No Motto design properly used from 1840 to 1865, and not supposed to have been used after that date, especially after pronouncements were made by certain Mint officials in 1869 that all earlier-dated dies had been destroyed. However, we have long since learned that the word of Mint officials as expressed circa 1860 to 1885 often lacks veracity. Because of the use of old dies, today we have a rich variety of very numismatically interesting coins to contemplate -- such as this piece. Obviously these were made for the numismatic trade, as there was no intention of reverting to the No Motto style.The website uspatterns.com confirms that Judd-1132 is a fantasy piece struck deliberately for sale to collectors, either in 1871 or sometime later. The same source states that only two specimens are known, although Andrew W. Pollock III (United States Patterns and Related Issues, 1994) mentions a third. Before receiving the E. Horatio Morgan specimen offered here on consignment, we would have been inclined to accept the uspatterns.com estimate as fact. As this piece matches neither of those referenced on that website, and as numismatic scholars know that many of the Farouk coins were unfortunately mishandled through cleaning, we agree with Pollock that three examples of Judd-1132 are extant:1 - PCGS Proof-66 BN. Ex Brinton T. Schorer, May 3, 1973; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part I, May 1999, lot 1257; our (American Numismatic Rarities) Classics Sale of September 2003, lot 36; Southern collection; Simpson Collection. Certified Proof-64 BN by PCGS as of our Bass I sale, and Proof-65 BN by PCGS as of our September 2003 Classics Sale, which grading events are still listed on the PCGS Population Report as of this writing. We believe that an additional grading event in NGC Proof-66 BN also refers to an earlier submission for this coin. The plate coin for the type on the website uspatterns.com and in the Judd (10 edition) and Pollock references on pattern and related coinage.2 - PCGS Proof. Unc Details. Ex Waldo C. Newcomer; King Farouk of Egypt; Sothebys sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, 1954, lot 1875; Dr. J. Hewitt Judd; E. Horatio Morgan Collection. The present example. The plate coin in the Adams-Woodin pattern reference, and also earlier editions of the Judd pattern reference, first through seventh editions.3 - Connecticut State Library, Inv. No. 11804. Ex J.C. Mitchelson.A rare and exciting specimen whose offering in this sale will certainly catch the eye of advanced pattern enthusiasts.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. Acquired December 1987. Earlier ex Waldo C. Newcomer; King Farouk of Egypt; Sothebys sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, 1954, lot 1875; Dr. J. Hewitt Judd. The plate coin in the Adams-Woodin pattern reference, and also earlier editions of the Judd pattern reference, first through seventh editions. Collector tag with attribution notation included.
