1849 PG$1 Gold Dollar, Judd-116, Pollock-131, High R.7, MS62 PCGS. CAC....

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1849 Gold Dollar, Judd-116, MS62
Struck in Gold-Silver-Copper Alloy
Hand-Engraved Devices

1849 PG$1 Gold Dollar, Judd-116, Pollock-131, High R.7, MS62 PCGS. CAC. Ex: Simpson. A simply laid-out coin with a square central perforation. On the obverse, around the perforation, is the legend 1.DOLLAR. 1849. The reverse has a laurel wreath around the perforated center and outside that U. STATES OF AMERICA. Struck in gold-silver-copper alloy with a plain edge. Six specimens, previously designated as Judd-115, should more properly be designated as Judd-116. The metallurgical tests conducted on those six pieces suggest they are actually gold-silver-copper alloy pieces, but not actually gold plated silver.

This is the only U.S. pattern that was hand-engraved, and as such it is distinctive and highly collectible. The necessity for hand-engraving and the larger history of these pieces is covered in an in-depth article in The Numismatist in October 2011, written by Ed Rector. In short, these patterns were emergency issues that were hand-engraved to simulate what a struck coin would look like with a square hole in it. They were needed in a hurry because a lame-duck Congressman from North Carolina, James Iver McKay, was pressing hard for the issuance of the pieces (mostly as an outlet for the gold mines from his native state). By January 26, 1849 Congressman McKay was in possession of one of these pieces. On January 30, six additional specimens were produced and sent by Mint Director Robert Maskell Patterson to other Congressmen. The surfaces of this piece are bright with significant speckling on each side, presumably from the copper in the alloy. An interesting and historic piece of U.S. numismatics. CAC: 1 in 62, 0 finer (12/21).

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 297W, PCGS# 11505, Greysheet# 12101)

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