J-1170 (J1170) 1871 Half Eagle $5 NGC PF65 RB. R-7+. This half eagle proof pattern coin is struck in copper. Mint luster gleams from within the devices. The copper colored surfaces are toned with touches of red-brown and green. A couple of tiny reverse ticks keep this coin from an even higher mint state grade. As expected for a proof, the coin is well struck on both sides with every detail apparent. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the coin shows a portrait of Liberty in profile facing left, wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. Her hair is loosely tied with beads and two curls flow down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, with the date below. Around the periphery of the coin are dentils on both sides. The reverse shows a small heraldic eagle with wings raised, looking left. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the coin, interrupted by the wing tips. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is on a banner above the eagles head. The denomination, written as FIVE D. is below.

Christian Gobrecht was the third Chief Engraver at Mint in Philadelphia. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. After an apprenticeship as a young man, he became an engraver of clockworks in Baltimore. Later, in Philadelphia, he joined a banknote engraving firm. He invented a machine that enabled one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration. His first work for the United States Mint was in 1826 when he made dies as an assistant to William Kneass. When Kneass was unable to continue working because of a stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work. He was Chief Engraver from 1840 until his death in 1844. Famous for his Liberty Seated dollar obverse, which was used for all denominations of silver coinage, he was responsible for also designing the Liberty Head Coronet motif that was first used on the gold eagle, and then on the half cent, the cent, and the gold quarter eagle, and the present coin, the half eagle.

This trial piece was struck from regular dies. In addition to being struck in copper, it was also made in nickel and aluminum. All of the 1871 off metal strikes from regular proof dies are rare. The designation R-7+ means that 4 to 6 pieces are known. In their population reports, both grading services show 3 coins in total. One is in PF 65 BR and the others are in PF 65 RB with none better.