The beauty of patterns

Before coins are put into circulation, pattern coins are created. These coins are often produced with off metal and off weight planchets. Some of the most famous patterns are mistakenly thought of as coins produced for circulation. Among these is the half dime or half disme of 1792 and the 1856 Flying eagle cent.

The half disme featured above is the famous specimen strike example (PCGS SP-67). It is believed by many to be the first coin officially produced by the United States after the Coinage or Mint Act was signed into law on April 2, 1792. It is amazing to think of the hands that this coin passed through. And as a proof collector, it is the Holy Grail of my collection.

The 1856 Flying Eagle cent has long been a pinnacle piece for collectors. The coin that introduced small cents has been hoarded over the years by some speculators. The most famous was Colonel John A. Beck who collected 531 of the estimated 800-1500 pieces produced. His hunch was correct and prices for this Longacre cent have soared over the years.

Other patterns have captured the imagination of collectors for many reasons. Some of these coins are sadly unobtainable, but at least we can still enjoy them.

The famous, unique Smithsonian example of the (J-1548) fifty dollar pattern known as the Half Union is a prime example. This coin was controversially considered stolen property of the mint and was finally returned to the government collection by Woodin in 1909 after paying $10.000 for it earlier that year. A huge sum for a coin in the day, but today its estimated value is nearly $25,000.000.

Another unique pattern in the Smithsonian collection is this $20 gold pattern (J-1773). Surely nobody is regretting the decision to go with the St. Gaudens double eagle, but this coin is perhaps the most beautiful design by Charles E. Barber. What a beautiful coin it would have been.

 

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thank god, something worth reading!

 

That was a beautiful schooling lesson for a noob as myself! Thanks

 

I read something about a 1854 flying eagle cent in the back of the red book once...
Great Lesson!

 

The 1854 Flying eagle pattern (J-164) is a large cent, although not as large as what was currently being produced.


There is also a 1855 (J-168) Flying eagle pattern.

 

Thanks for the neat thread.

The unique $20 gold pattern (J-1773) in the Smithsonian collection reminds me of a French coin.

 

Thank goodness, something different to read for a change! Rick Snow's site has some phenomenal pattern coins for the transitions from the Flying Eagle to the Indian series. Thanks for the write up!

 

The unfortunate side of patterns is the story behind how many of these were made and how they escaped the Mint. This leaves lots of folks rather cold toward them, but they are still cool and it was a good post.

 

My favorites are the O shaped coins. Once upon a time the mint was actually bold.

 

Not to mention how many pattern coins were restruck to meet collector demand in the 1880s.

 

[h=2]The World of Rare Coins: The Dollar With the Hole In It[/h]by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —
Filed under: Auctions

You've probably never seen a U.S. coin like this before. The U.S. Mint began experimenting with different gold dollar patterns in 1852. The problem was simple, gold dollars were small and easily lost. And so the Mint tried out creating pattern gold dollars in 1852, producing the patterns now known as Judd-136 to Judd-148 which have a larger, more convenient diameter.


http://www.luxist.com/tag/coin+collecting

 

http://coinauctionshelp.com/Pattern_Guides/nickelholed_shields.html

I can't copy this without copying everything so you'll have to take a look.

 

http://collectinggold.blogspot.com/

 

WAIT!?! you own a 1792 half disme?!? You did say "holy grail of my collection"

 

No, I don't have one...yet. I was saying that I consider that particular SP example the holy grail of my collection. Meaning that I consider that to be the coin that I desire the most. The pure history of the coin is just unbelievable.

 

what a sucker...

find real history

 

I have this struck in silver:
http://www.apmex.com/Product/59318/1906_999_Fine_Gold_Pattern_Double_Eagle_NGC_Charles_Barber_.aspx

 

With a value of over $1,500,000 I must not be the only sucker out there who thinks that.

 

Great and educational post, Kirkuleez.
I learned a lot from your article and those that followed.
Thank you and best regards!
-L

 

Is it true that the half dismes were made from George Washingtons silverware? I think I remember reading when they were starting up the mint, Washington put his (Marthas?) silverware to the mint.