Lot 1787
1854. Pattern Cent. Bronze, plain edge, Original, Judd-164, Pollock-189, Rarity-6. PCGS graded Proof 65 Brown. The reverse of this coin is entirely double struck, with a major shift of about 10 degrees clockwise for the second strike. Most of the reverse lettering and devices clearly show major rotation doubling. No sign of doubling on the obverse. We suspect that the coiner had noticed that these patterns were not striking up well (see the coin at the Harry Bass Foundation) and most are flat on the edge of the eagle's wing and on the wreath. Perhaps the coiner slightly rotated the reverse die after the first strike, in order to equalize the striking pressure on all the devices. This gave the wing a chance to be fully struck, and the reverse wreath was also brought up fully on the reverse in the process. A very similar coin with a double struck reverse was sold in Melnick's July 1982 sale, lot 45, which is obviously a different specimen as this coin was purchased in the mid 1940s.
Lovely medium brown in color, with traces of original color on both sides. PCGS has graded 7 this high in all the color combinations, with just 2 coins graded higher, both as PR-66 Brown. An impressive, and fully struck, example of this popular pattern issue which borrowed from Gobrecht's flying eagle pattern dollars.
The double striking feature would make an excellent article for publication, as there are likely more double struck specimens out there, and this is apparently deliberate as few are known, and at least two show the double striking on the reverse.
Estimated Value $900 - 1,100.
From the Benson collection and purchased from an unknown source on April 27, 1945 for $7.50.
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| Realized $3,105 |
