Lot 1871
1870 Pattern Quarter Dollar. Copper, reeded edge. Judd-896. Pollock-896. Low Rarity 7. PCGS graded Proof 64 Red & Brown PQ. A Premium Quality beauty displaying reddish-brown and sea-green iridescent toning. In a 1st generation PCGS holder. Pop 2; none finer.
Historic note: The year 1869 marked the advent of a remarkable series of Pattern pieces, known as the Standard Silver series, which were intended to be used to replace the fractional currency. This consisted of denominations of fifty, twenty-five and ten cents which were smaller in size and lighter in weight than the regular United States coins of equal denomination. They were to be struck in the same silver alloy as the authorized United States silver coins, but the weight of the half dollar was to be reduced from 192 to 154 grains, the quarter from 96 to 77 grains and the dime from 38 1/10 to 31 1/2 grains. The intention of the reduced weight was to prevent hoarding and exportation. The value was to depend upon the authority of their Issue rather than upon their bullion value so that they might be current whether gold was at par with paper money or not. William Barber made dies for three different obverses for each denomination after designs by J. B. Longacre. These sets of nine pieces each were struck in silver, copper and aluminum with plain and reeded edges and sold at the mint for fifteen dollars a set.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200.
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| Realized $2,588 |
