Owner Comments:
1859 $20
Judd-263, Pollock-312
Rarity: R.8, PR61 BN
Ex: Bass - Simpson
Plate Coin in Judd's 8th addition Reference Guide
Struck in Copper with Reeded Edge
Obverse/ Reverse:
Struck from the regular reeded edge dies for the 1859 Type One double eagle
Comment:
Struck from the regular issue dies of the year, here with 1 in LIBERTY from an 1 punch, rather than from the corrected L punch, as used 1850-1858. Upper loop of 8 in date noticeably repunched within.
Only three examples of Judd-263 are known, per the USPatterns.com website, and one of those is in the Byron Reed specimen in the Durham Western Heritage Museum, presently unavailable to collectors. The other is confirmed as: the Metzger (H. Chapman 2/1909), Zabriskie (H. Chapman 6/1909), E. Adams, Simpson-Heritage 2/21 - PCGS62BN specimen.
The 1859 Pattern twenties with the Paquet reverse were also struck in copper, and Judd-263 may have been coined at the same time for the purpose of comparison.
The present sharply struck piece displays powder-blue and mahogany-brown toning. Minor spots near stars 4, 6, and 7 provide identifiers, and the obverse has a few tiny scattered marks.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 297.7 grains. Diameter. 34.0 mm. Die alignment: 180° per 1999 Bass sale Catalog.
Video Description by Heritage
Video J-263
Provenance/Appearances:
From The Atherton Collection of U.S. Pattern Coins. Heritage May 2023 CSNS Signature® Auction / Lot #3379, Priors:
- Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II (Heritage, 11/2020), /Lot #3121,
- Southern Collection
- Pevehouse & Davis Collections (American Numismatic Rarities, 10/2004), /Lot #1057 (as NGC60BN);
- Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 5/1999), /Lot #1404 (PCGS AU58); were he purchased this from Max Draisner, 8/1973
USpattern.com makes the following observation: Woodin displayed one of these pieces at the 1914 ANS exhibit which went to Newcomer, but it is not known if Adams bought this specimen for him or the other piece. One of these appeared in E. Cogan's 5/1860 & 3/1862 sales