1878 Pattern Standard Dollar. Judd-1554b, Pollock-1746. Rarity-7. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-65 RB (PCGS). Obv: A head of Liberty faces left with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST above, the date 1878 below, and 13 stars arranged around the border seven left, six right. Liberty is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. The portrait is similar to that used on the famous pattern half unions of 1877. On this particular obverse die, the letter N in IN is close to the point of Libertys coronet, star 13 is close to the lowest hair curl, and there are three beads above the letter Y in LIBERTY with an additional bead after the letter. Rev: An upright eagle with spread wings clutches an olive branch in its right talon and a group of three arrows in its left talon. The Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed in the field above the eagle, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is at the upper border and the denomination ONE DOLLAR is at the lower border. There are no stars at the border in the 4 or 8 oclock positions, the letter L in PLURIBUS is centered under the first letter S in STATES, and the upright of the letter B in PLURIBUS is under the left edge of the letter E in STATES. Additionally, the letter M in UNUM is centered under the space between the letters ME in AMERICA.This is an exceptional Gem representative of a rare and highly desirable pattern type. The reverse retains nearly full mint orange color with just the lightest glossy brown patina in evidence. On the obverse, there is delightful medium brown and deep rose toning as well as brighter pink and orange undertones. Both sides are fully struck, smooth, and reveal modest semi-reflectivity in the fields. This design without stars at the reverse border is the first prototype of what early auction catalogs referred to as William Barbers rejected design for the silver dollar. As such, it was an important competitor to the design that would evolve into George T. Morgans silver dollar of 1878 to 1921. Only four examples of Judd-1554b in copper are known to exist (per the website <em>uspatterns.com</em>), along with three silver impressions (Judd-1554a/Pollock-1745). With solid Gem quality and an impressive provenance, this coin would do equally well in an advanced pattern or silver dollar collection. Ex Dr. Edward E. Maris Collection sale, June 1886, lot 214; T. Harrison Garrett; Robert and John Work Garrett, by descent, 1888; Robert Garrett interest to John Work Garrett, 1919, transfer completed 1921; John Work Garrett to the Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Stacks) sale of the John Work Garrett Collection for the Johns Hopkins University, March 1976, lot 657; our (Bowers and Ruddys) William R. Sieck Collection sale, July-August 1981, lot 285; our (Stacks) Amherst and Waccabuc Collections sale, November 2007, lot 1174; our ANA Auction of August 2016, lot 3529.
