US Patterns- WHAT U.S. COINAGE COULD HAVE BEEN
J-742a
50C - Standard Silver Liberty Head with Cap and 2 Stars, NO "B" Rev Date outside of Wreath
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
PATTERNS & TRIAL COINS 1864-1869 |
| Item Description: |
50C 1869 J-742 |
| Full Grade: |
PCGS PF 62 |
| Owner: |
mania |
Owner Comments:
1869 50C Std Silver
Judd-742a, Pollock-830, "NO Initial B"
Rarity: R.8, PR62; (3 pieces believe in existence), PR62
Judd-742a lacks the designer's initial "B" above LI on the ribbon
Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
Obverse: A standard Silver design with a bust of Liberty facing right, a cap ornamented with two stars on her head and a ribbon emblazoned LIBERTY crossing her shoulder. Unlike the J742, this die is missing the letter "B" that was located within the ribbon folds. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around the border and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed on a scroll below.
Reverse: A wreath of laurel and oak encircles the denomination 50 CENTS with the inscription STANDARD SILVER around and the date 1869 is outside and below the wreath bounded with 2 STARS
Comment: 
About three examples are known, according to USPatterns.com.
"There are actually 2 dies like this . The first is the die of 1869 with point of crown under the letter 'E'. and the other is the 1870 examples with point of crown under the letter 'S'."
Also Pollock notes that the Bottom of the curls are further away from the tip of the scroll - this helps with researching older photos of auction catalogs where low resolution of B&W photos makes it hard to see the "B"
This piece is lightly toned with a typical strike and there is a faint curved pin-scratch left of the 1 in the date. The right obverse field is lightly hairlined.
USpatterns.com noted with about 3 or 4 are known that included the Morris Evans-B/M 8/98 (PF58)/ Lot #2056, Heritage 1/07 (PCGS64) /lot #1404 and Heritage 8/15 (PCGS60)/ lot #5991 and it appeared again in Heritage 6/17 (PCGS60)/ lot #4680 sales. Also not mentioned was Superior Jun 1999 (Pre Long Beach) PCGS61 / LOT #3196 which does not appear to be neither the PF58 or the PR60’s noted above. It appear to me that at least 5 pieces are known
Provenance:
From Heritage 2020 August 3 - 9 US Coins Signature Auction / Lot #3789; Prior
Frank O. Fredericks Collection, Part III Heritage 2004 Orlando, FL (FUN) Signature Sale / Lot #8454 (label as just J742)
Heritage 2009 August Los Angeles, CA US Coin Auction / Lot #2265 (label as just J742)