Owner Comments:
1859C "French Head"
Judd-243, Pollock-299,
Rarity High R.7, PF63 (RARE as only 3 - 5 believed Known)
EX Lemus
Struck in silver with a reeded edge
Obverse: Longacre's "French Head" Liberty faces right with a oaks and vine wreath in her hair. A ribbon below the bust is inscribed LIBERTY, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around, and the date below.
Heritage Auctions description
Reverse: Features the regular Seated half dollar reverse with a spread wing eagle clutching 3 arrows in its talon - type II with the letters LF in HALF spaced apart at the top ( vs the type I where that nearly touch)
Comment:
Pollock (1994) lists three confirmed specimens, including the current offering, as well as two other possible Judd-243 patterns. A review of auction appearances from 1990 through 2005, as documented in the Dannreuther-Garrett Red Book of Auction Records, identifies only two examples having crossed the auction block during that 16-year time frame. Thus, the generally accepted rarity rating of High R.7 seems to be accurate. In fact USPatterns.com, which is the most current source of pattern rarity ratings, suggests that "about half a dozen [pieces are] known.“ However, their web site shows 3 distinct examples with a comment that one could be 2 different coins for a total of only 4 pieces. Without question, this is a rare issue.
The mirrored surfaces are minimally marked and sharp, with softness at the arrow fletchings, but otherwise the coin is bold and sharply detailed. "
Only about a half dozen examples are believe known making the High R 7 (4-6) a very good representation in Rarity
It should be noted that the "French Liberty Head" design is attributed to Longacre, although Saul Teichman suggests Paquet may have had a hand in the design, because the obverse legend utilizes Paquet's punches for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Provence/Appearances
From: Heritage Oct 2015 New York / Lot #3690; Priors
Ex: Massachusetts Historical Society (Stack's, 3/1973), lot 342;
The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 1576. PCGS Holder but previously in NGC holder (3124039-011):