Lot 3292
1873 Pattern Quarter Dollar. Aluminum, reeded edge. . J-1271. . P-1413. PCGS graded Proof 65. Old green holder. A brilliant gem. Pop 1; only one graded. Obverse and reverse: The dies used to coin regular-issue Proof coins this year. A satiny frosted gem. Graceful underlying luster supports pale aluminum gray iridescence. A pleasing example of the variety, and fully struck, with outstanding detail in the head, stars, and eagle (PCGS # 61556) .
Aluminum was the new "wonder metal" of the mid-1800s when this piece was made. Light and easy to work, it had splendid properties and possibilities. There was only one drawback: price. Although the price of aluminum fell to below that of silver by the early 1860s, it was still expensive to produce, hovering around twelve dollars a pound between 1862 and 1886. It retained this status until metallurgists found a way to smelt it in quantity. As a consequence, the US. mint struck only limited numbers of aluminum patterns and die trial pieces each year, often Rarity-6 or Rarity-7 items. (In 1889, man's technology finally caught up with his need for large quantities of this miracle light metal; prices plummeted and aluminum was soon being used to make tokens, medals, promotional badges, inflation coins by the jillion, and all sorts of other flimsy doodads.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 17,500.
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