1838 P50C Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Judd-82 Original, Pollock-90, R.8, PR63 PCGS. CAC....

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1838 Seated Half in Silver
Judd-82 Original, PR63
Finer of Two Known, Judd Plate Coin

1838 P50C Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Judd-82 Original, Pollock-90, R.8, PR63 PCGS. CAC. Ex: Bass-Simpson. This is one of the rare original 1838 Seated Liberty half dollar patterns with raised LIBERTY on the shield and gently arcing date. The reverse is that used to coin regular-issue Capped Bust, Reeded Edge half dollars in 1836, expressing the denomination as 50 CENTS. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. No restrikes are known of this die pair, making the present coin with such an long, illustrious pedigree an especially important bidding opportunity.

With the issuance of the 1836 Christian Gobrecht-designed silver dollars (considered a circulation issue) completed as well as the 1838 pattern Judd-84 and related silver dollars, in 1838 the U.S. Mint turned its attention to the second-largest silver denomination, the half dollars, and produced numerous interesting original patterns prefatory to the denomination's circulation launch the following year. As such, the half dollar patterns of 1838 are especially popular among series aficionados. Original half dollar patterns of the year, however, are much rarer than the numerous restrikes known for some dies, made at least through the 1870s and possibly later.

USPatterns.com maintains that only two are known of the Judd-82 with "confused pedigrees" and we expand theirs below. This piece is clearly identifiable as the Judd plate coin for the issue (and the Bass specimen) by a small dark straight-line toning area connecting the eagle's right (facing) wing and the shield. Overall, attractive rose-gold and amber hues generate excellent eye appeal, with tinges of sky-blue near the rims and brilliantly reflective proof fields. Some strike weakness appears in the central and lower-right shield and the eagle's right claw. A few stray, light contact marks and minor field chatter account for the grade.

The other Judd-82 survivor, MS62 PCGS, has been cleaned and lacquered.
Ex: Joseph Mickley; Mendes I. Cohen; Lorin Parmelee; Charles Steigerwalt; Dewitt Smith; H.O. Granberg-1914 ANS exhibit; Waldo Newcomer; Col. E.H.R. Green; Dr. J. Hewitt Judd (per Burdette G. Johnson 7/23/1943 invoice); M.W. Farris; Stewart Witham-Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981, lot 321); Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Bass Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 5/1999), lot 1152; Bass Research Foundation; Southern collection as PR63 NGC; Bob Simpson as PR63 PCGS.
Collecting Patterns – A Brief History and Commentary

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 11342, Greysheet# 12031)

View all of [Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II ]

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