Lot 2510
1895. NGC graded Proof 65. A fully white gem with a delightful cameo effect. Barber's half dollar obverse began as a mirror-image of the Morgan dollar head, though for removed most of model Anna Willess Williams's hair and concealed the remainder within her cap. Barber also left off the assorted vegetable matter from the brim of the cap (retaining the word LIBERTY), replacing it with a crown of plain laurel, surmounting the whole with IN GOD WE TRUST.
For the reverse, Barber improved on Robert Scot's work of 91 years earlier copying the Great Seal of the United States. His patterns (dated 1891, Judd 1766, 1765, 1764, 1762) retained the clouds above eagle; his final prototype dropped them, reducing the crowded effect. The adopted design differs also from the Great Seal in scattering the stars in field above eagle's head rather than retaining their Star of David array as on the dollar bill. Only Proofs 880 minted this year. Pop 54; 63 finer.
Estimated Value $1,800 - 1,900.
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| Realized $2,473 |
