US Patterns- WHAT U.S. COINAGE COULD HAVE BEEN
J-73 50c Bust Left - Gobrecht Liberty Head / Flying Eagle reverse

Owner Comments:

1838 50C
Judd-73,Pollock-77,
Rarity: R.5, PR63 CAC Endorsed

Struck in silver with a reeded edge

Obverse: Same as J-72, A large bust of Liberty faces left, with 13 stars around and the date is below the bust. Miss Liberty is wearing a diahem and LIBERTY is inscribed on a ribbon.

Reverse: A flying eagle facing Left with United Staes above and "HALF DOLLAR" below. The eagle may have been copied by Gobrecht from the Titian Peale sketch.

Comment: Interesting to note the mouth of the eagle is open and Pollack III reference book shares the exchange between Treasury Woodbury and Mint Director Patterson about trying work it to have the Eagle mouth close.

This example is better struck than usual for a Judd-73, though the eagle's breast are incompletely brought up. Attractively toned in powder-tan, olive-green, and peach-gold shades and nice mirrors

provenance/ Appearances:
Greats Collections Oct 2016