J-659 $5 (1868 Half Eagle Pattern), NGC PF63. Aluminum Paquet $5 "Stella" proposal for international coinage. "5 Dollars, 25 Francs" R-7-. This rare, aluminum pattern half eagle has a cameo appearance because of its light devices that contrast with darker fields. The coin has clean fields and not a trace of wear. The strike is full on both sides, as expected for a proof coin. Both the design centers and the dentils on both sides are full and sharp.

The coin, designed by Anthony Paquet, depicts Liberty facing left wearing two ribbons in her hair, which is tied in the back. A star is on top on the ribbon inscribed LIBERTY. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds Liberty with the date below. The reverse shows a wreath of laurel and oak leaves tied with a bow at the bottom enclosing 5 DOLLARS / 25 FRANCS.
This pattern was produced because Congress wanted to adjust the weight of the half eagle from 129 grains to 124.9. It had not circulated at par since December 1861. This change would also make it compatible with the French 25 Francs. The Paris Mint produced a similar piece with Napoleon on the obverse and the same denominations on the reverse. A related piece was made for use in Austria with the denominations 10 FLORINS / 25 FRANCS. The bill did not get Congressional approval.

Assistant Engraver Anthony C. Paquet was born in 1814 in Hamburg, Germany. He emigrated in 1848. He began working at the Mint in 1857 and remained there as an employee until 1864. He did additional contract work after his regular employment. He died in 1882. Paquet is most famous for his double eagles of 1861 that were named for him. In his book The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Donald Taxay say of him, Paquet possessed a very modest talent, and his dies, with but one brief exception, were never adopted on the coinage. A peculiar ugliness in portraiture, stiffness in anatomy, and tall, thin lettering distinguish the work of this artist.

The $5.00 J-659 pattern has an R7 rarity, which means 21 to 30 pieces are known. In its population report, NGC shows only this coin in PF63 with 2 better.