1839 50C J-93 Original PR(PCGS#11396)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

경매인

Stack's Bowers

로트 번호

3448

등급

PR65+

가격

40,800

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<strong>Obv:</strong> Portrait of Liberty facing right, her hair tied in a bun with a long curl trailing below the ear. On her head is a tiara inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle the periphery and the date 1839 is below. With deep curvature to the bust truncation, this portrait resembles that of Christian Gobrecht's initial Liberty Head eagle design of 1838 and 1839, although the bust faces to the left on the regular issue coin, which explains why this pattern is known as the Backward Head half dollar. Additionally, certain hair details are different between the two designs. Although traditionally credited to Christian Gobrecht, W.E. DuBois attributes this Liberty portrait to William Kneass in a letter written to Matthew Adams Stickney, July 12, 1843, and which is now in the Peabody Essex Museum, and which is quoted below. <strong>Rev:</strong> The same die that the Mint used to strike regular issue Proof Liberty Seated, No Drapery half dollars in 1839, with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and denomination HAL DOL. in small letters. There is a die crack through the bases of the letters in the denomination, and die clash within the lower right portion of the shield. This elegant specimen is dressed in warm pewter gray patina, the reverse also with outlines of copper-russet to the design elements. Direct lighting calls forth gently mottled undertones of iridescent cobalt blue, pinkish-mauve and antique gold that deliver further eye appeal. Both sides are fully struck, softly reflective in the fields, and boast expert preservation.<p>The Backward Head obverse of Judd-93 was also used to strike the unique (or semi-unique) Judd-94 copper pattern with the Small Letters reverse and, later, the Judd-95 (silver) and Judd-96 (copper) impressions with the Medium Letters reverse. The latter two are restrikes prepared expressly for sale to contemporary collectors; the Medium Letters reverse was also used with other 1838- and 1839-dated obverse dies for this purpose. Like its Judd-94 copper counterpart, however, the Judd-93 is silver is an original from that year that was struck in between the regular issue Proof 1839 No Drapery half dollars. This is confirmed by the existence of Judd-93 specimens both with and without reverse die clash within the lower right part of the shield. As above, the present specimen shows this die clash.<p>The present specimen is also the specific example of this type referred to by W.E. Dubois in the letter to Matthew Adams Stickney dated July 12, 1843, referred to above, and quoted here:<p><em>One half dollar of 1839, of a die which you never saw before, nor did I, until today. This die was made by Mr. Kneass, the late engraver, since deceased. A very few pieces were struck; I don't think I could get another, except for the Cabinet, where there is none as yet.</em><p>It is one of at least seven or eight specimens of Judd-93 in silver accounted for by the <em>uspatterns.com</em> website, two of which are in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution and Durham Museum. The Backward Head, Small Letters original half dollar is a historically significant type and landmark numismatic rarity, and the advanced collector would be wise to take full advantage of the fleeting opportunity represented by this offering.