1877 Pattern Morgan Half Dollar. Judd-1514, Pollock-1678. Rarity-7-. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-61 (PCGS). CAC. OGH--First Generation.Obv: A head of Liberty faces left, surrounded by a beaded circle, with the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM inscribed along the upper border and the date 1877 at the lower border. Thirteen stars are arranged around the border between the motto and date, six left, seven right. Liberty is wearing a cap, the band of the cap ornamented with ears of wheat, cotton leaves and bolls. The portrait is virtually identical to that which the Mint used for regular issue Morgan dollar production beginning in 1878. Rev: An eagle with raised wings is perched atop a scroll inscribed with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Behind the scroll are an olive branch and three arrows. The central design is surrounded by a beaded circle, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border and the denomination HALF DOLLAR below. A universally reflective specimen, both sides are untoned apart from subtle iridescent highlights at the borders. Wispy hairlines point to an old cleaning and explain the Proof-61 grade from PCGS. There are, however, no singularly mentionable blemishes apart from a small planchet void at the lower reverse border near the letter F in HALF that is as made. Sharply struck.According to research by R.W. Julian, the obverse and reverse dies of Judd-1514 represent the first of four designs that George T. Morgan prepared for pattern half dollars in 1877. Only seven specimens are known in silver, the present example the first that we have brought to auction since 2011.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. Earlier ex King Farouk of Egypt; Sothebys sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, 1954; our (Stacks) sale of the Thomas A. Bergin Collection of U.S. Pattern Coins, June 1984, lot 1247; our (Stacks) session of Auction 87, July-August 1987, lot 836; our (Bowers and Merenas) David B. Silberman, Jr. Collection sale, November 1988, lot 5410; Superiors Father Flanagans Boys Home Sale, May 1990, lot 3333; 1990 ANA sale; Superiors February 3, 4, 5 1991 Sale, lot 1590. Superior 1991 sale lot tag included.
