1877 50C J-1535 PR62 Certification #40322938, PCGS #61876

Pollock-1703, Rarity: R.8 Struck in silver with reeded edge Only three examples known. Provenance: Ex Simpson, prior Miguel Munoz Collection, Part III (Superior Galleries, 6/1981), lot 4; Auction '82 (Superior Galleries, 8/1982), lot 1500, & Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1999), lot 1236 Plate Coin in Pollock Reference (Fig 461)

Ron Guth

Only three examples are known of the 1877 J-1535 Pattern Half Dollar.  When the Garrett Collection example sold in 1979, none had ever appeared at auction, leading the cataloger to reach to the reasonable conclusion that it might be unique.  In 1981, a second example showed up, but its quality was materially lower than that of the Garrett coin; this one went into the Bass Collection and currently is owned by the mega-collector, Bob Simpson.  A third example is known from the Byron Reed holdings in the Durham Western Heritage Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, but it has been off the market for over a century, nor is it expected to appear any time soon.  The NGC Census Report shows a PR62, which could be a fourth example or an upgrade of the Bass/Simpson coin.