J-1626 1879 Silver Dollar Pattern - 1879 S$1 Pattern, PCGS PF65 R-4. This Gem, lightly toned 1879 proof pattern goloid metric dollar comes in an OGH, old green-label holder. The coin, which is tied for the third finest known at PCGS, shows white devices against a darker background, especially so on the obverse. Shades of slivery light blue, gold, and rose mix on both sides. The coin is completely original, and, with the exception of a small toning spot on the reverse, the surfaces are exceptionally clean for the grade, so much so that the coin could have graded a point higher. There are no visible hairlines or contact marks. The strike is excellent with full details on Libertys hair, the centers of the stars, the legends on both sides, and the reverse stars.

Designed by William Barber, the coin shows a Liberty head in profile facing left. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed headband with wheat in front and cotton behind. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is above. There are seven six-pointed stars to the left of the motto and six to the right with the date below the truncation. The reverse is shows a circle of 38 stars that enclose the weight and its equivalent as follows: 15.3 G. /236.7 S. /28 C. /14 GRAMS. Below the circle is the legend DEO EST GLORIA. GOLOID METRIC DOLLAR is above and, around the border is the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Goloid is an alloy of silver, gold and copper that was patented by Dr. William Hubbell in 1877. The metal is composed of one part gold, twenty four parts sliver, and two and one half parts copper. While used from 1878 to 1880 to make pattern coins, goloid was rejected as a coinage metal because it could not be easily distinguished from 90 percent silver without chemical analysis. Using it as a coinage metal would invite counterfeiters to use lower cost silver-copper alloys to make lower value copies. Goloid was used to test a concept for coins to match up to a European standard of value so the coin would be useful in international transactions.

William Barber was renowned for his pattern work and for the production of over forty medals. The dies and prototypes for these works were repeated many times over with slight modifications. One of Barbers most famous works was the Amazonian Seated Liberty quarter. In total, Barbers body of work is considered uninspired and inconsistent. However, he was one of the most prolific and influential pattern designers that had ever been employed by the Mint. He is probably best known for his Britannia inspired Trade Dollar that was made from 1873 to 1878 for circulation in China and other countries of the Far East. In 1878 Trade Dollars were discontinued, although proofs were made until 1885. One of Barbers negatives is that he was one of two Chief Engravers of the Mint not to have designed any major circulating coinage. He was responsible for the twenty-cent piece, but it was minted for only two years. Barber was succeeded at Chief Engraver by his son Charles.

Barber was born in England, married and came to the United States as an adult. He was the son of an engraver and had apprenticed to his father in the early years in England. Among other things he learned typesetting for cards and labels and fine silver engraving. He settled in Boston in September 1852 and worked for Gorham & Company, manufacturers of silver and gold jewelry. Barber was responsible for die making and pattern design for Gorhams trade medals and commemoratives. Eventually, as the Civil War was ending, James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver at the Mint, hired Barber as an assistant in 1865. Barber moved to Philadelphia and began designing patterns and medals for the Mint. One of his most famous medals was the one celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Americas Independence. When Longacre died in 1869, Barber became the fifth Chief Engraver at the Mint. He earned $3,000 per year in salary and held the position until his death in 1879. When he became the Chief Engraver, he immediately hired his unproven son, Charles to be an assistant engraver. This hiring was an example of the kind of patronage that Longacre had tried to eliminate.

The 1879 J-1626 was also struck in silver, copper, aluminum, an unknown white metal, and lead. In its population report, PCGS shows 6 certified at the Gem PR65 grade level with 2 finer.