Owner Comments:
1871 50C
Judd-1109, Pollock-1245
Rarity: R.7, PR64 Red Cameo
Ex: Lemus Collection
Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
Obverse: A seated Liberty faces left, wearing an Indian Princess headdress and a flowing robe. Her left hand rests atop a globe wrapped with a scroll bearing the word LIBERTY in raised letters, while holding a spear and Liberty cap in her right hand. Two flags are in the background with the date 1871 in exergue. The periphery is free of stars or legends.
Reverse: Is that of the regular-issue half dollar. With the standing spread wing eagle with Motto
Comments:
Radiant apricot-gold color dominates this crisply struck and unmarked near-Gem. All that limits the grade is a few scattered tiny obverse flecks.
Amazingly preserved red coloration blankets both sides of this near-Gem proof, although a few small scattered carbon spots and a fingerprint are observed on the obverse and likely preclude a higher grade. These minor issues are redeemed by appealing cameo contrast throughout.
Pollock, in his United States Patterns and Related Issues, explores the origin of this obverse design:
"Although Longacre's Indian princess motif did not appear on any patterns prior to 1870, the design is known to have been conceived by him no later than 1852. Cory Gillilland in her 'Bullion Coins: A Nineteenth Century Proposal,' illustrates Longacre's circa 1852 sketches for this motif. The obverse design, illustrated on p. 22 of the article, is almost identical to that featured on the 'Indian princess' pattern pieces produced in 1870 through 1873, after Longacre's death (in 1869)."
The USPatterns.com website opines that William Barber implemented Longacre's Indian Princess design. Although this motif was never adopted for use on regular-issue U.S. coinage, a similar style of Liberty is found on the U.S. Trade dollars minted between 1873 and 1885.
Pollock (1994) documented the weight of this specimen at 162.8 grains, with a diameter of 1.197 inches.
Provenance/Appearances:
- Ex: River Oaks Sale (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/1976), lot 978;
- Lloyd M. Higgins, M.D. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 1/1988), lot 701;
- Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two / FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 1803;
- Stacks and Bowers Sept 2010 The Philadelphia Americana Sale: Part Two /Lot#3264,
- Stacks and Bowers June Baltimore 2011 / Lot# 9061
- Heritage April 2021 Central States- Chicago / Lot #4897