Lot 1873
1877 Pattern Half Dollar. Copper Reeded Edge. Judd-1515. Pollock-1679 High Rarity 7. PCGS graded Proof 63 Red & Brown. Lots of mint red with some minor flyspecks. Popular Morgan design. This lovely, rare, and compelling half dollar is the only one graded Proof 63 RB by PCGS. The obverse features a head of Liberty by George T. Morgan, modeled after Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia kindergarten teacher. In this form she is surrounded by a circle of beads, outside of which is the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, a constellation of stars, and the all-important date, 1877. The reverse, also by Morgan, shows a rather martial eagle boldly atop a cartouche inscribed in incuse letters, IN GOD WE TRUST. This same type cartouche was used elsewhere by Morgan, notably variations on the reverse of the 1879 Schoolgirl Pattern silver dollar and the 1915-S Panama-Pacific commemorative quarter eagle. From the left of the cartouche springs an olive branch, while to the right are three dynamic arrows with zigzag shafts, an interesting touch, perhaps indicating electrical strength. Around is a circle of beads matching the obverse, with the nice artistic touch that the eagle's wings protrude and extend into the lettering inscriptions around.
The extensive production of 1877 Pattern half dollars, made at the request of Mint Director Henry R. Linderman, was intended to make ready designs in case congress mandated the renewed production of regular silver dollars, a denomination that had not been struck since 1873. George T. Morgan who had come to the mint from London, as an assistant to chief engraver William Barber, did not meet with a warm welcome by Barber or his son Charles, the latter also an assistant. In fact, Morgan was given the cold shoulder and was forced to work outside the mint premises for a time.
Half dollars of this year were combining different obverses with different reverses, creating several dozen varieties that today stand at the very apex of numismatic demand. For years these have been classics, and several have endeavored to acquire as many different varieties as possible, sort of a half-dollar whist game.
In 1878 the anticipated silver dollar become a reality under the Bland-Alison Act of February 28, and in early March silver dollars were produced. George T. Morgan's Pattern half dollar dies of 1877 were used in this regard, the portrait of Miss Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. The obverse Morgan dollar portrait is the same as used on the presently offered half dollar, except in larger size. Pop 1; 2 finer, 1 in 64, 1 in 66 (PCGS # 71853) .
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
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| Realized $18,400 |
