Pattern coins are a fascinating part of numismatics as they were struck to test the various designs, motifs, and innovations proposed over the years for our coinage.
All patterns are scarce with most being very rare. Pattern collecting is definitely an extremely advanced segment of American Numismatics.
Low R-7. The obverse displays CENT at the top, the date at the bottom, and one star on each side of the center. The center is setup to be a ring planchet but remains unperforated. The reverse is blank except for dentils around the border. Struck in nickel with a plain edge. A light dusting of gold rests upon brilliant surfaces that are nearly mark-free. The single finest graded of this variety at PCGS.
R-4. Longacre's "French Head" obverse with Liberty facing right. A ribbon inscribed with LIBERTY drapes across her neck. I/2 DOLLAR is within a wreath on the reverse. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
Low R-7. Struck from regular obverse and reverse dies on a standard copper-nickel planchet, but with a reeded edge instead of the usual plain edge. None have graded finer at either service.
CAC. R-3. Regular issue dies with a plain edge, but struck in bronze rather than the regular issue copper-nickel. Thin planchet variety struck with medallic alignment. This was the Mint's first time to experiment with bronze.
Low R-6. Regular design without 'L'. Struck in copper on a thick planchet with a plain edge and is similar in size to the regular copper-nickel issue.
Low R-7. Struck from the regular obverse die, and paired with the regular reverse die of 1866 with the motto above the eagle. Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
High R-6. The obverse is of the regular die, while the reverse is similar to the regular issue of 1865 except for a scroll above the eagle reading IN GOD WE TRUST. Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
R-5. Struck in nickel with a plain edge. The obverse is similar to the Three-Cent Nickel design. The reverse portrays a large roman numeral 'V' inside a wreath.
CAC. High R-7. Struck in aluminum with a plain edge. The obverse design resembles the Three-Cent Nickel but on a regular size nickel planchet. The reverse has 5 CENTS within a wreath and a tiny IN GOD WE TRUST above. Very scarce with just 2 graded at PCGS and none at NGC.
R-5. Standard Silver Design. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
"Standard" Dime. R-5. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Liberty head wearing a Phrygian cap on the obverse. 10 CENTS inside a wreath on the reverse with STANDARD SILVER on top and the date below the wreath.
R-5. Standard Silver Design. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
High R-6. Standard Silver design struck in silver with a plain edge. Liberty wears a diadem inscribed LIBERTY with her hair tied in a bun. The reverse has 50 CENTS within a wreath with the date below and UNITED STATES above.
R-4. Similar to the regular issue Three Cent-Nickel with a larger date and smooth pillars in the Roman Numeral III. The Pollock book divides Judd-676 into two varieties with this being the rarer Pollock-755, an R-7.
R-4. Similar to the regular issue Three Cent-Nickel but struck on a larger planchet with smooth pillars in the Roman Numeral III. Struck in nickel with a plain edge.
"Standard Silver". Low R-6. Struck in silver. The obverse features the head of Liberty with a diadem in her hair and no stars on the tiara. A scroll with IN GOD WE TRUST curves beneath the bust. On the reverse, the date lies below 10 Cents in the center of the wreath and STANDARD is at the top center. This example blends rich fuchsia and deep blue across fully mirrored fields and sharp devices. Eye appeal is excellent.
R-5. Standard Silver design with Liberty facing right. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA circles around with IN GOD WE TRUST in a scroll below. 10 CENTS and date inside a wreath on the reverse with STANDARD above. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Beautifully toned with shades of steel-blue, lavender and gold. None have graded finer at NGC or PCGS.
High R-6. Head of Liberty wearing a diadem on the obverse. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds with IN GOD WE TRUST on a scroll below. 10 CENTS inside a wreath on the reverse. STANDARD SILVER above and date below. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
CAC. The obverse portrays a seated figure of Liberty with shield and olive branch. A scroll is draped over the shield with the word LIBERTY inscribed and a Liberty pole stands behind the shield. Thirteen stars surround the central devices, with the date in the exergue. The reverse is the design used for regular-issue coinage in 1870. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. Ex George T. Crawford Collection, Charles Steigerwalt, July 1894, lot 635; J.M. Clapp Collection; Clapp Estate to Eliasberg, in 1942, via Stack's; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, Bowers & Merena, May 1996, lot 280.
High R-7. Bust of Liberty faces right wearing a headband inscribed LIBERTY. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and IN GOD WE TRUST is below on a scroll. Reverse has 50 CENTS inside a wreath with STANDARD SILVER above and the date below. Struck in silver with a plain edge. Outstanding quality with a beautiful blue and gold patina dancing off highly reflective surfaces.