J-429 - 1865 Half Dollar Pattern  - 1865 50C Pattern, J429, R7, NGC PF65. This eye-appealing, silver, Gem proof 1865 Half Dollar Pattern is tied for the finest known at both NGC and PCGS. The coin has lovely toning on both sides. The obverse is a mixture of light and dark blues with the devices outlined in gold. The reverse adds tan to the mix. Most of the eagle is highlighted in gold with a darker periphery. The surfaces are original and clean with no hairlines visible and no contact marks or other distractions worthy of note. As expected for a proof coin, and adding to its appeal, is the full strike of the piece.

The J-429 pattern is a transition piece that was designed by Christian Gobrecht. It was made to review the placement of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse of the coin. The obverse shows the regular Seated Liberty design in which Liberty looks over her shoulder to the left. She balances the Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY with her right hand and holds a staff on which is placed a Phrygian cap in her left. There are seven stars to the left and six to the right interrupted by her head and the capped pole. The date is below. The reverse shows the heraldic eagle looking left. It is surrounded by the required inscription and the denomination written as HALF DOL. below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is added to a scroll above the eagle by James Longacre. This design was adopted for use in 1866.

Both before and during the Civil War almost a dozen Protestant denominations pressured Congress to add references to God to the Constitution and other government documents. Reverend Mark Richards Watkinson was the first to write to Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase to request that Gods name be added to our coinage. His suggestion for a motto was God, Liberty, Law. Chase ordered Mint Director James Pollock to prepare a suitable motto. Pollocks suggestions included Our Trust Is In God, Our God And Our Country, and God Our Trust. Then Chase decided on In God We Trust to be added to most of the nations coinage. This motto was a subtle reminder that the North considered itself on the side of God with regard to the issue of slavery. A new law was required to allow the motto to be added since previous acts of Congress specified the mottos and devices that were permitted on coins. The new motto was placed on all coins that were deemed large enough to accommodate it.

In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle.

In 1844 Longacre was appointed Mint Engraver through the influence of Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. After overcoming opposition by the Chief Coiner, Franklin Peale, who was fearful that the new Engraver would interfere with his illegal medal manufacturing business using the Mint facilities, Longacre did well. He was responsible for creating many new designs including the Indian Head cent, the two-cent piece, the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head gold dollar, the Indian Princess gold dollar, the three-dollar gold piece, and the Liberty Head double eagle.

The sliver J-429 was also made in copper and aluminum. It has a R7 rarity rating, which means that only 7 to 12 pieces are known in all grades. In its population report, NGC shows 2 in PF65 with none better. At PCGS there is 1 in PF65 with none better.