J-652 1868 Silver Dollar Pattern - J652 1868 S$1 Pattern NGC PF63 CAM. This Proof 1868 Silver Dollar Pattern coin is struck in aluminum from regular dies. It is the second finest known at NGC. The coin has frosted devices against dark fields that create the eye-appealing cameo effect. The surfaces are original and show very light hairlines with good reflectivity and only microscopic contact marks on Libertys cheek and neck, which are mentioned for the sake of accuracy. The strike is bold and full in every detail so that the images really pop.

The year 1868 saw all of the denominations struck in aluminum as patterns from regular dies. Evidently the Mint was experimenting with this metal and created special off-metal proof sets for the year that included the copper, nickel, silver, and gold denominations up to the double eagle.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Seated Liberty dollar. The obverse depicts Liberty seated looking 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 ONE DOL. below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is on a banner above the eagle.

The With Motto Liberty Seated dollar was issued from 1866 to 1873. James B. Longacre, the new Mint Engraver, added the ribbon with the motto on the reverse as a result of pressure on the government from various church groups.

Both before and during the Civil War almost a dozen Protestant denominations requested that Congress 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 J-652 aluminum silver dollar pattern has an R7 rarity rating, which means that 7 to 12 pieces are known. However, the population reports of the two major grading services show a total of only 8 pieces certified, which indicates that the coin is rarer since the 8 no doubt includes resubmissions and crossovers. NGC has reported 1, the present piece, in PFCA63 with 2 better.