J-237 Pattern-1859 Half Dollar

Over the course of his lifetime, James B. Longacre designed some of the United States most unforgettable coins, from the captivating Indian Head cent, with the head of Liberty wearing an Indian head dress, to the Shield Nickel. While Chief Engraver of the U.S Mint from 1844 to 1869, Longacre designed this exceedingly rare pattern with his rendition of the “French Liberty Head” prominently displayed on the obverse. Longacre’s design of the “French Liberty Head” is said to be based off of the “Apollo Belvedere” marble display at the Vatican and that Longacre worked from engravings or sketches published in 19th century art journals.


The reverse of the pattern features the words “Half Dollar” gloriously displayed in the center of a splendid cereal wreath. Harold P. Newlin, a prominent numismatist of his day, was said to have suggested the idea of the wreath to then U.S Mint director James Ross Snowden. The wreath is sometimes called “Newlin’s Wreath of Cereal’s.”