J-138 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern  - J138 1852 G$1 NGC PF64. R-7. This unusual proof 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern coin is struck on a cut down, gold-plated silver dime, the With Legend type. This 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern coin shows brown and tan surfaces. Some areas of darker toning on the obverse are found below the date and near the right side of the inner ring. The reverse has a lighter area on the right side and is much darker at the outer rim. Portions of the Seated dimes legend can be seen on the obverse. Unlike many proofs of the time, this 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern is of superior quality. There are no lint marks, slide marks, or visible hairlines. The surfaces of this 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern are original, clean, and free of individual blemishes worthy of mention. The 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern piece weighs 1.29 grams and was made to test the concept of a perforated gold dollar. This 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern coin has a strong strike that shows full details on the USA and date of the obverse and the wreath of the reverse.

The coin, designed by James B. Longacre, is in ring form also called an annular pattern. The mint officials felt that a dollar with a large opening in the center would be easy to use in circulation. Many annular patterns were produced in the 1850s for various denominations; however, none was adopted for coinage. A larger format coin would enable the mint to maintain the value of the gold.

The obverse shows a large USA at the top of the ring with the date below. The reverse has a continuous laurel wreath with seven pairs of leaves and berries. The present piece is a restrike actually made in the late 1850s from Longacre dies and struck for collectors.

Longacre was appointed as Mint Engraver in 1844 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.

Often the US Mint thinks of changing designs for coins in circulation. In earlier times, the Chief Engraver was responsible for proposing design changes through the production of pattern coins. These test pieces allowed the Mint officials to see how the proposed designs looked and struck up. They also allowed the officials to test new metals and new alloys. The present piece is an example of an experimental design to test the practicality of a ringed gold dollar.

The J-138 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern has an R7 rarity rating, which means that 7 to 12 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern pieces are known. In its population report, NGC shows 2 1852 Gold Dollar Pattern pieces in PF64 condition with 7 better.