Q. David Bowers
1869 Patterns
Background: 1869 was the year that Standard Silver (as the term inscription on the coin) patterns were made in various series of the dime, quarter, and half dollar. (Beginning in 1870, silver dollars would be added to the series.) 1t was the intention that these pieces, of lighter weight than the regularly authorized coins, would be able to be circulated without being hoarded and would serve to replace Fractional Currency notes then in widespread circulation. Three different designs each were made of these three denominations, and further combinations consisted of silver with reeded edge, silver with plain edge" and copper with reeded edge, copper with plain edge, aluminum with reeded edge, and aluminum with plain edge. Dr. Judd relates that these were openly sold to collectors by the Mint.
J-763 (A-W 726). Regular Proof silver dollar dies in copper. To create rarities, the Mint struck regular Proof dollar dies in non-standard metals, in small numbers, probably fewer than a dozen impressions each.
J-764 (A-W 727). As above, but in aluminum. In the catalogue of the George D. Woodside Collection, catalogued by RP. Smith and David Proskey, and sold by Bangs, April 23, 1892, under Lot 235, it was stated that five complete sets of the regular denominations (cent through $20) were struck in aluminum.
J-765. (A-W 728). As above, but struck in nickel. Three or fewer are believed to have been made.
1870 Patterns
Background: Individuals with access to dies at the Mint went wild in 1870, realizing they had a good thing with the Standard Silver patterns. Not only were designs of 1869 resurrected for further use, but new dies and combinations were made of various denominations. In addition, for the first time the Standard Silver series a number of silver dollar patterns were struck. So far as is known, it was not contemplated that the reduced-weight Standard Silver series would, if made for regular circulation, include silver dollars, but the opportunity to create pattern silver dollars Was too good to miss. The coinage department ran amok, and the result is that a complete set of all pattern coins from the cent to the double eagle bearing the date 1870 would comprise over 250 coins!
While some of these were sold openly to collectors, others were not. Probably, those which the numismatic fraternity was able to buy openly simply whetted the appetite of collectors to acquire rarer pieces made secretly.
The dollar series includes the following listings:
J-996 (A-W 865). Obverse design of Liberty Seated, by William Barber. Miss Liberty, dressed in a flowing gown, has her right hand resting on a shield, mostly obscured by her right leg. The inscription LIBERTY appears on the shield. 'A liberty cap appears from nowhere and extends into the left field. Six stars are to the left and seven to the right. The same general motif was used on lower denominations as well. The reverse depicted the-inscription STANDARD /1/ DOLLAR Within a Ornate wreath of cotton and corn. J-996 was struck in silver With reeded edge.
J-997 (A-W 864). As preceding, silver, but with plain edge.
J-998. As preceding, but struck in copper, reeded edge.
J-999. (A-W 866 and 867). As preceding, but copper, plain edge.
J-1000 (A-W 868 and 869). As preceding, but aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1001 (A-W 870). As preceding, but aluminum, plain edge.
J-1002 (A-W 872). Obverse as preceding, with William Barber's Liberty Seated design. The reverse is the regular Liberty Seated dollar die with perched eagle and IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon above. Silver, reeded edge.
J-1003. (A-W 871). As preceding, silver, but plain edge.
J-1004 (A-W 874 and 876). As preceding, but copper, reeded edge.
J-1005 (A-W 873 and 875). As preceding, but copper, plain edge.
J-1006 (A-W 878). As preceding, aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1007 (A-W 877). As preceding, but aluminum, plain edge.
J-1008 (A-W 852). Obverse with a new design of Liberty Seated, from a motif created earlier by James B. Longacre (who died the year before). Miss Liberty appears as an Indian princess with a headdress similar to that found on the Type II $1 gold coin of 1854. She faces left, her right hand holding a Liberty cap on a pole, and her left resting on a globe inscribed LIBERTY. Two flags are behind, one of which has 22 stars. The signature LONGACRE appears in the field to the right below the base. 13 stars surround, and the date 1870 is below. The reverse is the Standard Dollardie used for J-996. Struck in silver, reeded edge.
J-1009 (A-W 851). As preceding, silver, but with plain edge.
J-1010 (A-W 854). Design as preceding. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1011 (A-W 853). Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1012 (A-W 856). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1013 (A-W 855). Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.
J-1014 (A-W 858). Obverse as J-1008, with James B. Longacre's Liberty Seated design. Reverse from the regular design to coin Liberty Seated dollars, with perched eagle and, above on a ribbon, the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST. Silver, reeded edge.
J-1015 (A-W 857). Design as preceding. Silver, but with plain edge.
J-1016 (A-W 860). Design as preceding. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1017 (A-W 859). Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1018 (A-W 862). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1019 (A-W 861). Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.
J-1020 (A-W 847 and 879). Regular Liberty Seated dollar Proof dies struck in copper, reeded edge.
J-1021 (A-W 848 and 880). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1022 (A-W 849, 850, 881, and 882). Design as preceding. Nickel, reeded edge.
1871 Patterns
STANDARD /1/DOLLAR; the denomination being within an ornate wreath of cotton and corn. Sil-ver, reeded edge.
J-1121 (A-W 1104). Design as preceding. Silver, plain edge.
J-1122 (A-W 1107). Design as preceding. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1123 (A-W 1106). Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1124 (A-W 1109). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1125 (A-W 1108). Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.
J-1126 (A-W 1099.) Obverse with Liberty Seated as J-1120. Reverse from the regular Liberty Seated Proof die of the year with perched eagle, and, above, a ribbon displaying IN GOD WE TRUST. Silver, reeded edge.
J-1127 (A-W 1098). Design as preceding. Silver, plain edge.
J-1128 (A-W 1101). Design as preceding. Cop-per, reeded edge.
J-1129 (A-W 1100). Design as preceding. Cop-per, plain edge.
J-1130 (A-W 1103). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1131 (A-W 1102). Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.
J-1132 (A-W 1129). Obverse as preceding, and as used on J-1120. Reverse from a pre-1866 Liberty Seated dollar die without the motto IN GOD WE TROST, a die that the Mint should not have had on hand but did. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1132a. Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1133 (A-W 1110). Obverse of James B.
Longacre's design of Miss Liberty seated, somewhat similar to that used in 1870, but with 13 stars on the flag and no initials or name below the base. The re-verse bears the inscription STANDARD /1 / DOL-LAR, with the denomination being within an ornate wreath of cotton and corn. Silver reeded edge.
J-1134 (A-W 1111). Design as preceding. Silver, plain edge.
J-1135 (A-W 1113). Design as preceding. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1136 (A-W 1112). Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1137 (A-W 1115). Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1138 (A-W 1114). Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.
J-1138a. Obverse, Longacre's Liberty Seated design with stars, as used for J-1133. Reverse from the regular Liberty Seated Proof die with perched eagle and, above IN GOD WE TRUST on ribbon. Silver, reeded edge.
J-1138b. Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1139. Obverse is the Longacre design of 1870 with 22 stars on the flag, but without name or initials below the base. The reverse is with inscription STANDARD /1/DOLLAR, the denomination being enclosed within an ornate wreath of cotton and corn. Silver, reeded edge.
J-1140. Design as preceding. Silver, plain edge.
J-114 1. Design as preceding. Copper, reeded edge.
J-1142. Design as preceding. Copper, plain edge.
J-1143. Design as preceding. Aluminum, reeded edge.
J-1144. Design as preceding. Aluminum, plain edge.