1876 $20 J-1488 (Proof)

David Akers (1975/88): Description. Obverse. The regular die of 1877. Similar to J-452 except that the position of the head is slightly different and the hair is more finely detailed. Reverse. The regular die used from 1866 to 1876. Identical to J-452.

Comments: This unique pattern, along with the next, J-1490, was first publicized in the June, 1909 Numismatist, although for a short time prior to that, the piece had been in the possession of Captain John W. Haseltine of Philadelphia. It is probable that both of these unique double eagle patterns came from the William Idler collection, as did the two 1877 half unions which came to light at approximately the same time.

Haseltine claimed both pieces to be unique, but, according to the Numismatist article, that claim "led to some discussion and investigation on the part of those who were informed of Captain Haseltine's possession. Mr. Edgar Adams who is ever alert to disprove or substantiate any new claims for the Territorial and the United States series was among the persistent investigators." Adams, after his investigation, wrote the Numismatist informing them that all other supposed duplicates were merely from the regular dies. He concluded his letter by stating that "both (pieces), so far as I am able to learn, can safely be regarded as unique."

Just prior to the announcement of the two unique pieces in the Numismatist, Haseltine sold both J-1488 and J-1490 to William Woodin of New York City for $1000.00 each. Woodin's agents later sold both specimens to Waldo C. Newcomer of Baltimore and when Newcomer's collection was sold, the two unique patterns were obtained by King Farouk.

In the Farouk sale, this transitional double eagle pattern was offered as lot 292 where it was described as follows: "Pattern twenty dollars, 1876, obverse of 1877 type, reverse of 1876 type (A.W. 1466). The obverse struck as a brilliant proof, the reverse as ordinary coin; excessively rare." (The cataloguer's designation of AW-1466 was incorrect. Actually this lot was AW-1464; the next was AW-1466.) The piece realized 275 Egyptian Pounds or approximately $789.25 and was purchased by Spink and Son Ltd. of London. Its present location is unknown to me.