1 Dollar - T$1 Commercial Dollar

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal republic (1776-date)
Type	Pattern
Year	1871
Value	1 Dollar (1.00 USD)
Currency	Dollar (1785-date)
Composition	Copper
Weight	26.5 g
Diameter	38 mm
Thickness	2.8 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 331009 Numista type number (https://en.numista.com/help/what-is-the-n-number-visible-in-the-catalogue-33.html)
References	Judd# 1157, J. Hewitt Judd, Q. David Bowers, Saul Teichman; 2008. United States Pattern Coins, Experimental and Trial Pieces : Complete Source for History, Rarity, and Values (10th Edition). Whitman Publishing, Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Pollock# 1301 Andrew W. Pollock; 1994. United States Patterns and Related Issues. Bowers and Merena Galleries, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States.

Obverse

Liberty wearing an Indian headdress seated on a rock with left hand on globe. Right hand holds a pole with liberty cap at top. Additionally, there are two flags behind the rock. Date at bottom near rim. Surrounded by 13 stars.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
LIBERTY
1871

Engraver: James Barton Longacre

James Barton Longacre was an American portraitist and engraver, and from 1844 until his death the fourth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.

Reverse

Text outside and inside a Wreath.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COMMERCIAL
DOLLAR
420 GRS
900 FINE
GOD OUR TRUST

Edge

Plain

Comments

This Commercial pattern issue, was struck in copper (and silver) in plain and reeded edge varieties and was the forerunner of the Trade Dollar that would make its official debut in commerce two years later, in 1873. USPatterns.com notes that the former Bass example in silver, reeded edge (Judd-1154), weighed 410 grains--close to the regular standard for silver dollars, despite the reverse inscription.

The use of the revised motto GOD OUR TRUST is interesting, as this original version had been rejected years before, and "no information has been learned to the effect that the usual motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, needed modification," according to Judd. Perhaps the simplest explanation is correct, that for the designer a ribbon center with two sides dictated a three- rather than four-word version.

Judd estimates that the plain edge versions in silver and copper are R.8, while the reeded edge versions are High R.7. Like so many of these incredibly elusive patterns, however, making an accurate census or estimate of their true rarity is simply impossible. Many of the early auction citations lack photographs and/or are simply misattributed--when attributed at all--and various factors conspire to mask the true picture of a given issue's rarity. The certified populations are but one clue to those questions, but they are nonetheless helpful when taken with the usual caveats to the emptor (and vendor).

See also

• Wreath

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Get this coin

No member from this site currently wants to exchange it.

Numista Rarity index: 95

This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

» Buy coins from the United States at eBay

Contribute to the catalogue