1878 $1 Morgan Dollar, Judd-1553, Pollock-1730, R.8, PR65 Red and Brown PCGS. CAC....

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1878 Morgan Dollar in Copper
Judd-1553, PR65 Red and Brown
Ex: Farouk, Believed to be Unique

1878 $1 Morgan Dollar, Judd-1553, Pollock-1730, R.8, PR65 Red and Brown PCGS. CAC. Ex: Simpson. The obverse appears to be identical to the regular issue 1878 Morgan dollar. Compared to a proof 1878 7 TF Morgan, both obverse dies have exactly 148 dentils, and all other details appear to be the same. The reverse is similar to the regular issue reverse, with minor differences. The olive branch has nine leaves in a slightly different layout, with other differences in the arrows and slimmer wings. Note the first A in AMERICA distant from the wing on this pattern, and touching the wing on the regular issue. Berries are in different clusters and leaves in the wreath are in different groups. However, this 1878 Morgan dollar pattern is a closer match to the regular design than any others of the year. Struck in copper with a reeded edge.

Judd-1553 is almost certainly unique. The only known example, offered here, can be traced back to the A. Gerald Hull Collection sale of 1895. It passed through the hands of Virgil Brand and B.G. Johnson before ending up in the cabinet of King Farouk. In the sale of his collection in February 1954, lot 1989 was described as "1878, a similar pattern in copper, A.W. 1561 A. Extremely Fine, prettily toned and probably unique." Unfortunately, like so many of the King Farouk coins, that lot was unplated in the catalog. While the Extremely Fine grade and the "prettily toned" description seem counterintuitive, many of the Farouk patterns were conservatively graded Extremely Fine. Today, they are known to be considerably nicer.

This amazing pattern is mostly brilliant with rich copper-orange color and lovely iridescent toning. The surfaces are exceptionally clean and attractive, and the strike is bold. There is little evidence of spotting or other blemishes. This unique offering will surely appeal directly to pattern specialists and advanced Morgan dollar collectors. The connoisseur who desires the rarest numismatic specimens can do no better than the present piece, which resides on a short list of unique coins.
Ex: A. Gerald Hull Collection (Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 11/1895), lot 812; Virgil Brand (journal #15124); B.G. Johnson; King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), lot 1989; unknown intermediaries; Frank M. Stirling Collection / Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2009), lot 1442.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2AF4, PCGS# 71914, Greysheet# 14796)

View all of [Important Selections From The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII ]

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