1860 $5 J-272, BN PR(PCGS#12078)

1860 $5 J-272, BN PR (PCGS#12078)

The November 2010 Baltimore Auction

Losbeschreibung: 1860 Pattern Half Eagle. Judd-272, Pollock-320. Rarity-6-. Proof-65 BN (NGC). CAC. A bust of Liberty faces right on the obverse with 13 stars around the border and the date 1860 below. Liberty is wearing a soft cap ornamented with three stars, and a ribbon crossing her shoulder is inscribed LIBERTY. On the reverse an eagle with outstretched wings clutches an olive sprig in its left (facing) talon and a group of three arrows in its right (facing) talon. A shield is superimposed over the eagle's breast, and a scroll in its beak is inscribed with the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and the denomination FIVE DOLLARS is below. Struck in copper with a reeded edge on a large-size planchet that is closer in size to that used for regular issue Ten-Dollar gold Eagles.<br />     Handsome golden-copper surfaces are originally toned over fully impressed devices. Shimmering Mint reflectivity is easily seen in the fields as the coin rotates under a light. The large size of the planchet was to test anti-counterfeiting measures in the Mint.