Owner Comments:
1862 $10 Ten Dollar
Judd-285, Pollock-340
Rarity: High R.7, PR62 BN High Date variation
Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
Obverse: The regular ten dollar dies for 1861.
Reverse: Similar to the regular dies design but with the addition of the motto GOD OUR TRUST on a scroll above the eagle.
Comment:
This a high date, rounded bun Pollock subvariety. Only a half-dozen or so pieces are believed known. This important example is toned in rich, rust-red shades with gray-tinged accents in the open fields. All features are boldly, if not sharply struck, and no mentionable abrasions.
A nice coin for the grade, and a rare pattern issue.
Longacre on "GOD Our Trust" inscription:
“ … The most appropriate place for such a motto, is found in connection with the national inscription, which on all our large coins is on the reverse: the device of which is an eagle with the heraldic accompaniments appropriate to the arms of the union as adopted by law: dispensing ar present with the mtto (E Pluribus Unum) and the crest, except on the Double Eagle: The place of the crest offers the best position for the insertion of such a motto as is now required as on all of the other coins which are large enough to admit of such an addition – this place is now vacant – and a motto if sufficiently brief may be introduced with the least disturbance of the device as now arranged – and I have made a drawing of the reverse of the Double Eagle in outline to indicate such a modification of the crest as will present the motto however (which was the first suggestion) “Our Trust is in God” - I found on attempting to apply it to the Eagle and Half Dollar reverses – contained too many letters to insert in the place of the crest without crowding them too much for good taste: and therefore selected for greater brevity the words “God Our Trust”; which carries the same idea – in the form of expression according with heraldic usage ~ and probably as readily understood as the more explicit form of the other.
From the considerations before mentioned, I have confined my attention to the inscription of the motto, without changing the artistic portions of the present devices. It may not be amiss to be remark however that the smallest change of the permanent devices or legends on the face of the coin, required the making of new hubs for the dies on which it is to be placed. A) I have struck this on reverse dies of the Eagle and Half Dollar, and impressions, in copper of the Eagle, and in silver of the Half Dollar are presented with these remarks which will serve to show the effect as proposed: This motto in the same letter can be placed on the four larger denominations.
Provenance/Appearances:
From Great Collections Feb 2023 ID # 1294768 priors: Heritage April 2018 CSNS Auction - Chicago / Lot #4935; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2001), lot 8323