J-1601 1879 50C (J-1601) PCGS PR64. ex. H.W. Bass Jr. This proof J-1601 1879 50C pattern coin is from the famous collection of H.W. Bass Jr. The obverse is blue-grey with hints of lilac and some steel-grey toning on the right near the rim. The reverse is predominantly tan with traces of purple, green and rose scattered in the field and on the eagles wings. About two-thirds of the eagles breast has darker green-grey toning on it. There is also darker toning near the dentils around most of the reverse. Mint luster is seen in the devices on both sides of the coin. There are no obvious handling or contact marks or other distractions on the surfaces. The strike is weak in the central portions of both sides.

 

The obverse of the coin shows Morgans Liberty Head, which is the same style as the silver dollar. Liberty faces left wearing a coronet with the word LIBERTY incused on it. Above the coronet are heads of wheat and bolls of cotton. For the reverse, Morgan took the eagle motif from an earlier work. It is the same bird that appears on certain gold patters of 1878. The reverse shows a large eagle perched holding an olive branch with seven leaves and three arrows. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR are around the boarder. Around the lower part of the eagle is IN GOD WE TRUST in smaller letters.

 

Harry Bass, Jr. was a collector and numismatist. Although his specialty was gold coinage in all its variations, he also collected a spectacular grouping of rare patterns, one of which is the current piece. Many numismatists consider the Bass pedigree to be one of the most important because Bass assembled one of the greatest collections ever. The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation was created in 1991 as an extension of his great interest in the study of numismatics and his desire to engage in significant philanthropic endeavors in several different areas. The PCGS population report shows 2 in PF64 for this pattern with 4 better.