1874 Pattern Liberty Seated Half Dollar. Judd-1362, Pollock-1507. Rarity-8. Aluminum. Reeded Edge. Proof-64 (PCGS). CAC. OGH.Obv and Rev: The same designs that the Mint used to produce regular issue 1874 Liberty Seated half dollars. Splendid bright white surfaces exhibit appreciable contrast between mirrored fields and lightly frosted design elements. All devices are fully rendered, although we do note a few areas of trivial lack of detail within the denticulation on both sides, those at 3 to 4 oclock on the obverse and in the opposing area on the reverse the result of a minor planchet lamination (as made) on the former side. Although traditionally described as a regular dies trial striking, the website uspatterns.com speculates that Judd-1362 was deliberately struck for sale to contemporary collectors as part of off-metal Proof sets. These aluminum strikings are exceedingly rare with only three specimens known:1 - Ex Major Lenox R. Lohr; Empire Coin Co.; our (Stacks) sale of the R.E. Cox, Jr. Collection of United States Half Dollars, April 1962, lot 2255; our (Bowers and Merenas) Herbert D. Spencer Collection sale, June 1996, lot 1210; E. Horatio Morgan Collection. PCGS Proof-64. The present example, and the only one certified by the major third party grading services as of this writing.2- Ex our (Bowers and Ruddys) Robert C. Hall Estate sale, October 1978, lot 2234; our (Bowers and Ruddys) Wilfred E. Helwig Collection sale, February 1979, lot 1435. Brilliant Proof.3 - Ex King Farouk of Egypt; Sothebys sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, 1954, lot 1933.Copper impressions from these dies are also known, Judd-1361, and they are even rarer than their aluminum counterparts with just two specimen positively confirmed. Both types are eagerly sought not only for their extreme rarity, but also due to the brevity of the regular issue Arrows, Motto Liberty Seated half dollar type, produced in only 1873 and 1874. A fleeting bidding opportunity that is sure to result in strong competition among advanced numismatists.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. Acquired August 1996. Earlier ex Major Lenox R. Lohr; Empire Coin Co.; our (Stacks) sale of the R.E. Cox, Jr. Collection of United States Half Dollars, April 1962, lot 2255; our (Bowers and Merenas) Herbert D. Spencer Collection sale, June 1996, lot 1210.
