J-1749 - 1885 Silver Dollar Pattern - J1749 1885 $1 Pattern PCGS PF65. This lustrous, aluminum Gem proof 1885 Silver Dollar Pattern has light, silver-gray and white devices against darker blue-gray fields creating an almost cameo effect. It is tied for the second finest known at both PCGS and NGC. The coin is well struck on the obverse with full details on the hair above Libertys ear but shows some weakness on the eagles breast. The surfaces are completely original and clean for the grade with no contact marks or individually distracting hairlines. The coin has raised edge lettering with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

It is not known why an experimental edge was used for this coin, particularly since the same motto appears at the top of the obverse. Frequently issues such as the present piece were distributed privately as part of numismatic shenanigans that began under Mint Director James Ross Snowden and continued until 1885 when James P. Kimball became the Mint Director. The pattern was also struck in silver, J-1747, and copper, J-1748.

George T. Morgan designed the Morgan silver dollar, which was issued every year from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921. Hundreds of millions of Morgan silver dollars were saved in bags of 1,000 each, in bank vaults because the federal government created artificial demand for them to satisfy the Western silver interests. Some were melted in 1918, but large quantities remained in bank vaults and were later bought by investors and collectors. Because many millions of Morgan silver dollars exist today in the hands of the public, it has become the most widely collected coin of its era.

Morgans design for the dollar shows a close head of Liberty in profile facing left. She wears a headband inscribed LIBERTY. In her hair are cotton, corn, wheat, and tobacco. She wears a modified Phrygian cap and is surrounded with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, thirteen stars (seven left and six right), and the date. The reverse shows an eagle with wings raised looking left. In its talons are arrows and olive branch, symbols of preparedness and peace. A wreath is below and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST is above. Except for the eagles wing tips, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR circumscribe the design.

The 1885 aluminum $1.00 J-1749 pattern has an R7 rarity rating, which means that 7 to 12 pieces are known to exist. In its population report, PCGS shows 2 in PR65 condition with 3 better. At NGC there are none in PF65 with 2 better.