Owner Comments:
1879 $1 Metric Dollar,
Judd-1618, Pollock-1813,
Rarity: R.5, PR65 CAC Endorsed
Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection
Struck in Silver with a reeded edge
Obverse: William Barber chose a head of Liberty facing left as the central obverse motif, with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, the hair tied in a bun at the back and flowing down to the shoulder. E PLURIBUS UNUM appears at the top border with the date below, seven stars left, and six stars right.
Reverse: The legend and denomination are placed at the top and bottom border with a wreath of corn and cotton. A cartouche contains the motto DEO EST GLORIA and a circle inside the wreath frames the four line inscription 895.8 S. / 4.2--G. / 100--C. / 25 GRAMS. - The goloid alloy composition (Silver Gold Copper)
Comments: This is a collectible pattern with several hundred pieces known, according to USPatterns.com. Mostly silver-gray surfaces exhibit whispers of golden color. Razor-sharp and minimally marked for the grade.
Interesting to note that when this piece was housed on the ANA Museum for 30 years Harry Bass had Cataloged it as a J-1617 ( Goloid) piece and not the Silver J-1818 composition PCGS evaluated and labelled the piece. This reinforced the concept that these goloid pieces should be metallically tested.
Provenance/Appearance:
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II. Heritage Jan 2023 Fun Lot # 9099, Bass purchased from Stack's (6/26/1970).