Lot 2725
1870 Pattern Silver Dollar. Copper, plain edge. NGC graded Proof 66 Brown. Some mint red visible. Incredibly beautiful toning. Designs attributed to William Barber. A youthful appearing Liberty, seated, facing left. The reverse is the same used on regular issue silver dollars of the year. Alluring smooth steel-brown surfaces, with a nice, even color and extraordinary eye appeal. Well struck is too meek a description to describe the eye-popping razor-sharp detail of this piece, and a major rarity so fine. Apart from Patterns struck in gold, the dollar sized Patterns (in any metal) are among the most popular and desirable. Pop 3; none finer at NGC in BN.
William Barber became chief engraver at the Philadelphia Mint following the death on January 1, 1869, of James B. Longacre, who had held the post since 1844. He produced many dies for Pattern coins during the decade of the 1870s, most notably a large oeuvre of 20-cent pieces 1874-1875, commercial dollars and trade dollars 1873-1876, and silver dollars 1878-1879, among numerous others. His work varies from the ordinary to the inspired, perhaps his 1872 Amazonian silver coins being his most acclaimed accomplishment in the latter category. For several years after Longacre's death, Barber used Longacre hubs and models to create new varieties of Liberty Seated motifs, later making his own version (which seemed to fall short of Longacre's work). Important to the study of Patterns, William Barber was front row center during the most pivotal era of Pattern issuance in American history, during the regime of Henry Linderman, during the making and/or distribution of restrikes, irrelevant mulings, etc. No doubt, if he had written a numismatic biography, many secrets would have been revealed. Today, the Pattern field is richly endowed with his work. He died in 1879 and was replaced by his son Charles as chief engraver at the Mint.
Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000.
Ex: Lemus Collection.
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| Realized $12,650 |
