US Patterns- WHAT U.S. COINAGE COULD HAVE BEEN
J-250 50C Seated Liberty with fasces. "1/2 DOLLAR" Reverse Struck In copper

Owner Comments:

1859 50C
Judd-250, Pollock-289
Rarity: High R.7, (only 3- 7 pieces Extant), PF63BN 

Struck in copper with a reeded edge.

Obverse:
Obverse: The Paquet Liberty Seated with Fasces with the homely & disproportionate Liberty seated on a rock, shield at her lowered right (facing) hand and holding the top of a fasces in her left hand. An olive branch and three arrowheads lie awkwardly under the shield. Thirteen stars encircle the rim. .

Reverse: The familiar Cereal Wreath design composed of cotton, tobacco, corn, sugar cane, wheat, and oak. with denomination "1/2 DOLLAR" in the center.

Comment:
As on the previous silver piece extensive die rust pitting is observe around the reverse periphery confirming this coin as a restrike from the 1870s, at which time they were made expressly for sale to contemporary collectors

Fewer than a half-dozen are believed known.
Deep reddish-brown patina covers each side of this seldom-seen pattern.

171.8 Grains Diameter 30.4 mm

Provenance/appearances:
From The Collection of William Rau, Heritage April 2018 CSNS / Lot #4932; Priors : Morris Evans Collection Bowers & Merena Aug 1998 /Lot #2040, Possibly from the King Farouk Collection Sotheby Feb 1954 /Lot #1764