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1838 P50C Half Dollar, Judd-74 Restrike, Pollock-78, Unique, PR66 Brown NGC....
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Unique Copper Judd-74 Restrike
1838 Half Dollar, PR66 Brown
1838 P50C Half Dollar, Judd-74 Restrike, Pollock-78, Unique,
PR66 Brown NGC. 178.6 gn. Struck in pure copper with a reeded
edge. The only known example of Judd-74, and absent from the
numismatic scene since a 1954 Macy's auction. In that auction from
54 years ago, the comment was made: "6 struck. The only other AW-73
heard of was in a sale in 1892." This notation is interesting as it
may give the actual number struck (or it may simply be Adams and
Woodin's best guess). It also may link this piece to an 1892
auction. Judd-73, the usual pattern from these dies, is R.5 and
struck in silver. Judd-74, its unique copper variant, is a restrike
from the 1870s, according to uspatterns.com. It has the heavy
radial die cracks seen on the Judd-73 restrikes, located near 1, 4,
7, 8, and 9 o'clock.As is the also the case with the many of the silver restrikes, the present piece lacks a full impression, and shows softness on the hair above the ear and on the high points of the wings. Perhaps the incomplete strike was deliberate, an attempt to extend the life of the virtually shattered reverse die. (Judd-254 mules the obverse die with a Paquet-engraved reverse die from the late 1850s, and may have been struck after the Judd-74 reverse die was no longer usable). The fields provide pleasing reflectivity, and the light sea-green and gold toning is highly attractive.
The obverse design is dominated by a large portrait of Liberty, who wears a curved coronet in her hair. The stars are arranged 7x6, and the date below has script 8s and is slightly curved in placement. The date digits were likely entered individually instead of using a gang punch. For many years, numismatists believed the obverse die to be the work of Chief Engraver William Kneass, made shortly before his disabling stroke. But Liberty's profile has much in common with the 1838 ten dollar design credited to Christian Gobrecht, and both dies are likely from his hand.
The reverse is similar to the starless variety of the famous Gobrecht dollar, Judd-63, but the eagle flies level instead of upward, indicated by the placement of the beak at 8:30 instead of 9:30. Unlike on the Gobrecht dollar, the eagle's beak is open and the neck is broad. While these dies can be represented by a silver example of Judd-73, the present coin is the only known copper specimen.
Ex: George Woodside Collection (New York Coin & Stamp, 4/1892), lot 21; Virgil Brand; Mrs. R. Henry Norweb; New Netherlands 41st Sale, 9/1953; Macy's, 6/1954, lot 1049, where it brought $52.00.
Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 11291, GSID# 12011)
Auction Info
2008 July-August Baltimore, MD (ANA) US Coin Signature Auction #1114 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
Jul-Aug, 2008
30th-3rd
Wednesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 12
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 970
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid per lot.
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