Lot 797
1838 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, reeded edge. PCGS graded Proof 62. A trifle soft in the centers as made. Lots of flashy mirror surfaces. This handsome rarity is a restrike from the second die only with straight date. According to Judd, "originals may exist but none seen to date. Always weak in centers." Of course, the word "always" has minimal significance to the Judd-80 half dollar since the coin is rated Rarity-8, with only two listed as known to Judd, the 1976 ANA specimen and one in the Witham Collection! A refreshingly attractive design in which the obverse mimics closely the regular seated Liberty of the Gobrecht dollars as well as that adopted in 1839 for the half dollar. LIBERTY is in incuse lettering on the ribbon on Judd-80. The reverse displays the "defiant" eagle holding an olive branch and six arrows in its claws and is one of Gobrecht's starring designs. Another version of this eagle has it soaring on the Judd-79 and Gobrecht dollar patterns. Pop 1, 1 in PF63 only 2 graded at PCGS. (PCGS # 11332) .
Estimated Value $15,000 - 17,500.
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| Realized $17,250 |
