J-391 1864 50c J391 1864 Half Dollar Pattern PCGS PF64 CAM CAC R7. This transitional, proof 1864 Half Dollar Pattern is the finest graded at both PCGS and CAC. Its lightly toned devices contrast with dark fields creating the cameo effect. The devices are predominantly coppery-gold and the fields are dark brown, blue, and black. . The strike is sharp with full details seen on the centers of the stars and the details of Libertys head. Unlike many proofs of the time, this 1864 Half Dollar Pattern is of superior quality. There are no lint marks, slide marks, or visible hairlines. The surfaces are original, clean, and free of individual blemishes worthy of mention. The CAC designation indicates that the coin is of premium quality and fully merits the grade assigned.

The obverse of this 1864 Half Dollar Pattern shows the regular Liberty Seated design of the year. The reverse of this 1864 Half Dollar Pattern is similar to the regular design; however, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST has been added to a banner above the eagle. This design was adopted in 1866.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Liberty Seated coinage. The obverse shows 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 HALF DOL. below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin.

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, the present coin. 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.

Not only were the Mint officials trying to determine the best wording for the motto, they were also trying to decide how to place the motto on the coin. James B. Longacre, who was now the Chief Engraver, added mottos to various coins. In 1861 a pattern half dollar, J-277, had GOD OUR TRUST added on a scroll above the eagle. A second pattern for that year, J-279, had the motto in small letters added above the eagle with no scroll. Similarly in 1862 there was a pair of GOD OUR TRUST patterns with and without a scroll, J-293 and J-295. In 1863 the IN GOD WE TRUST motto appeared on patterns for the two-cent piece and half dollar. Longacre designed the two-cent piece, which was the first coin to use the motto and officially issued in 1864. After Kneass 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 sliver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and sliver 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.

After William Kneass, the Mint Engraver, 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 sliver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and sliver 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.

The J-391 1864 Half Dollar Pattern has an R7 rating meaning that 7 to 12 pieces are known to exist in all grades. In its population report, PCGS shows only this coin in PF64 CAM with none better. At CAC as of February 2012, there is only this coin in PF64 CAM with none better.