J-67 1836 G$1 Pattern (J67 1836 Gold Dollar Pattern) NGC PF67. R-5. Gold Gobrecht $1! This exceptional proof 1836 Gold Dollar Pattern is tied for the finest known at both grading services. Its devices are lustrous on both sides, with somewhat contrasting, reflective fields. The strike is above average on the obverse but strong on the reverse with full details seen on its design elements. The surfaces are original, clean, and free of distractions worthy of mention. There are no hairlines that are visible to the unaided eye, as expected for a PF67 coin.

Christian Gobrecht designed the J-67 pattern. It shows a Liberty or Phrygian cap with LIBERTY on its band. Surrounding the cap are ten large rays, ten medium sized rays, and many smaller ones. On the reverse the denomination, written as 1 D. is in the center. It is surrounded by a palm branch in an almost full circle. At the periphery is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with the date, 1836, below.

The Phrygian cap or liberty cap is also known as the pilleus. Shaped like half an egg shell, it was used in ancient Rome to symbolize emergence from confinement or slavery. Partly used to conceal ultra short haircut or shaved head which marked slave status, it became an 18th century symbol of liberty in both Europe and the United States. In 1825 Samuel Morse, the Mint Director, wrote to Thomas Jefferson asking about what Congress meant with the words an impression emblematic of Liberty. He also asked if the cap of Liberty was appropriate and if it should be placed on the head of the figure personifying Liberty. Jeffersons brief reply said that the liberty cap is not a proper symbol because we were never slaves, and the cap is the symbol of a slave who had been granted his freedom.

This piece is both the first gold pattern coin of the United States and the first gold dollar ever struck at the Mint. Probably between 15 and 20 were struck in March, 1836. They were made from 90% gold and 10% copper. The dies were aligned for the normal coin turn. In January 1844, another small number were struck using gold alloyed with silver. This pattern, the J-68, used a medal turn, which has the reverse rotated 180 degrees from the standard coin turn. In the 1860s a number of J-67 restrikes were made. They are indistinguishable from the originals. However, one of them was struck over an 1859 gold dollar and elements of its design show on the pattern piece. Because of the restrikes, Akers estimates that 30 to 40 pieces exits, although, Judd gives the pattern an R5 rating indicating 31 to 75.

Christian Gobrecht became the third Chief Engraver at the United States Mint. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. His father was a German immigrant, and his mother traced her ancestry to the early settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Gobrecht married Mary Hewes in 1818. One of his early positions was as an engraver of clocks in Baltimore. Later he went to Philadelphia where he became a banknote engraver. He invented a machine that allowed one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration. This was an excellent job and Gobrecht was understandably reluctant to work for the Mint for less money than he was making at the engraving firm. In order to persuade him to leave, Mint Director Robert Patterson prevailed upon Chief Engraver William Kneass, who had had a stroke, to take less in salary so more money would be available to hire Gobrecht on a permanent basis. In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to Kneass. 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.

The 1836 gold dollar pattern, J-67, is rare in all conditions. The total certified population is 41. This total does not account for resubmissions or crossovers. In its population report, NGC shows this piece tied for the finest with 1 PF67 CAM. The finest certified at PCGS is a PF66.