Owner Comments:
1860 $5
Judd-272, Pollock-320
Rarity: Low R.6, PR63 BN
Struck in copper with a reeded edge
Obverse: The obverse displays a right-facing bust of Liberty with three large stars on the cap and 13 stars around the perimeter. This is somewhat a familiar motif within the Standard Silver series and first used on Judd-271 and Judd-272. The date is noticeably small.
Reverse: Features a small eagle with a curved shield, clutching the banner bearing E PLURIBUS UNUM in its beak along with an olive branch and arrows in its claws. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and circles the perimeter and FIVE DOLLARS is below.
Comment:
The piece was struck on an eagle-sized planchet as an anti-counterfeiting measure. Produced on thick and thin planchets, this is a thin-planchet variant. The surfaces are pleasing, toned in deeper autumn leaves coloration. Fully struck.
The diameter is remarkably large for a half eagle, resembling in size a coin of the $10 denomination. In 1860 it was ascertained at the Treasury of the United States in New York that U.S. $10 gold pieces were being sawed in half edgewise and hollowed out. The coins were then reassembled with a disk of platinum taking the place of the lost gold (platinum at the time had a lower value than gold). It was reasoned at the Mint that by increasing the diameter and reducing the thickness of the larger gold coins in circulation, this fraudulent alteration would become difficult if not impracticable. The Judd-272 $5 pattern was produced to illustrate the concept
Provenance/Appearance:
Private Sale Dec 2018 , Prior
-From The Collection of William Rau, Heritage April 2018 Signature Auction - Chicago / Lot #4933,
-Bowers and Merena 9/15/1993 The Tower Hill Collection /Lot #3100