1871 Pattern Quarter. Judd-1096, Pollock-1232. Rarity-7. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-66+ (PCGS). CAC. Obv: Longacres seated Indian Princess design with flags, globe, and Liberty cap on pole, stars around and date below. Rev: Typical STANDARD design, open-topped wreath with denomination within. Nicely struck with even the tiniest design detail crisp and sharp. The centers are mostly brilliant with just a hint of toning, while the borders are richly painted in gold and tangerine iridescence. A rich, frosty texture blankets the design elements, starkly contrasting the watery and reflective fields that surround. Virtually pristine and absolutely delightful to examine in-hand. Much like the transitional 1860 half dime, this is a "coin without a country" and lacks UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on either side. It was designed by James B. Longacre but was executed by William Barber after Longacres death on New Years Day 1869. These die were also struck in copper (Judd-1097, Rarity-7) and aluminum (Judd-1098, Rarity-8). It is thought that about a dozen or so silver examples of Judd-1099 currently exist, and this is the first example that we have handled in over a decade since our January 2009 sale of the Bass specimen. The present specimen is absolutely among the finest known for the issue, and it ranks as the sole finest certified by PCGS in any category. It is finer than the Eliasberg-Simpson specimen (Proof-66 PCGS) and also the aforementioned Bass coin (Proof-66 PCGS), and is bested by just the Newman specimen at Proof-67 (NGC). However, in earlier auction appearances, the present example was also housed in an old NGC holder graded Proof-67, asserting how truly PQ it remains at the current Proof-66+ Cameo level. Ex Heritages Long Beach Signature sale of June 2001, lot 9471; Heritages sale of the Washington Spring Collection, August 2018, lot 5375; Legends sale of January 2019, lot 490; Legends sale of September 2019, lot 544.
