Owner Comments:
1878 $5 Half Eagle,
Judd-1574, Pollock-1766,
Rarity: High R.6, Gilt, PR62
Struck in a larger diameter copper and then gilted with Reeded Edge
Obverse: The William Barber Flowing Hair motif graces the obverse. Liberty faces left, wearing a headband eponymously inscribed. E PLURIBUS UNUM is above, the date 1878 below.
Reverse: An eagle with lowered wings in the center, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM around. The arrows are long and slender, their tips extending behind and past the eagle's wing, and the olive branch has six leaves.
Comment:
The series of 1878 half eagles, Judd-1568A through 1574A, were struck on larger-diameter, thinner planchets as anti-counterfeiting measures, in an effort to combat the plague of malefactors scooping out the center of a gold coin and replacing it with less-expensive metal (in the 1870s one of the less-expensive metals was platinum!). This is a lightly hairlined example. The gilt surface does little to impede the bright flash of the proof mirrors. The strike is generally strong, but it is clear that die opposition had not been thoroughly thought through with this design as there is slight high-point softness noted on each side.
Provenance/ Appearances:
From Heritage Jan 2022 FUN Signature® Auction - Orlando / Lot #4280; Prior
- Heritage April 2019 Central States / Lot #3988;
- Heritage Jan 2015 FUN /Lot #6760;
- Stacks Jan 2003 Lot 2154
- New England Rare Coins Jan 1981 FUN Sale /Lot #1193
- Bowers & Ruddy Nov 1976 (Rivers Oaks Collection) Lot #1023
- Possible Kagins 7/79 Lot 939 and ex Farouk 1954