US Patterns- WHAT U.S. COINAGE COULD HAVE BEEN
J-235 50C Seated Liberty with fasces Eagle Reverse Silver

Owner Comments:

1859 50C
Judd-235 Pollock-284
Rarity: R.5 PR63

Struck in silver with a reeded edge

Obverse: Anthony Paquet's design offers a seated Liberty facing left. She supports a fasces with her right hand and balances a shield in her left. There are thirteen stars around the perimeter and the date at the base.

Reverse: Features Paquet’s large standing eagle with wings extended and a shield on its breast. Olive branch and lengthy arrows in the claws and holding a ribbon in its beak with E PLURIBUS UNUM inscribed. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and the denomination HALF DOLLAR is below

Comment:
This is Pollock variant know as a “Broken Ribbon" reverse. The ribbon looks as it is in 2 two pieces at the right end. The “Broken Ribbon” effect was possibly due to either insufficient pressure of the hub die into the working die, thus not bringing out certain features of the ribbon into proper relief or it could have been from resurfacing of the die once it was prepared.
In addition to the “Broken Ribbon” there were other variations as the Eagle left wing tip is rounded and the “RED” vertical strips in the shield have three lines each and the “white” strips in the shield are narrow. The eagle has six tail feathers.

A well struck specimen with moderate cameo contrast and pleasing peripheral peach-gold, ruby-red, and blue-green toning. The obverse is moderately hairlined.

Provenance:
Heritage 2013 August 8 - 10 US Coin Auction - Rosemont / Lot #4875

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Set of Paquet's and Longacre 50C Patterns of 1859