1859 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, reeded edge. Judd-249. Pollock-288. High Rarity 7. PCGS graded Proof 63. CAC. PQ. The obverse design by engraver Anthony Paquet depicts Liberty seated and facing left on a rock, her left hand supports a shield, her right touches the business end of a battle axe held in a fasces. Below is the date 1859 and shes surrounded by 13 stars at the periphery. For the reverse Paquet employs a large cereal wreath, open at the top and tied below with ribbons. Inside states 1/2 / DOLLAR. Lovely blue toning on both sides which adheres to the periphery, varying shades of russet, gold and bright silver to the centers. Curiously the strike is a trifle soft on Libertys head (seen on others of the Judd-249 issue), and the reverse die shows patches of rust in the fields (rust in the die like this then creates raised lumps on coins struck as seen here). The rust implies this die sat around for a long time before being used to strike this half dollar pattern, and today it is believed these were struck in the early 1870s, but only a few were coined. Pop 2; 1 finer in 64 Cameo. (PCGS # 12000) <DOTLEADER> Estimated Value $6,000 - UP
