J-887 1870 Quarter Pattern - J887 1870 25C Pattern PCGS PR66 CAC, R7+. This Premium Gem Proof 1870 aluminum pattern quarter comes with a CAC sticker indicating it is a quality coin that fully merits the grade assigned. It is tied with one other for the finest known at PCGS. The coin has a cameo-like appearance because of its light devices against much darker fields. Shades of lustrous silver and rose contrast with steel-gray fields giving the coin an ethereal glow. The surfaces are original and clean with a few hairlines visible only with magnification. As expected for a proof coin, the strike is outstanding with full details on both sides of the coin.

The obverse, designed by William Barber shows a new version of Seated Liberty. She faces left holding a shield in her right hand with a pole and Phrygian cap behind. In her left hand she holds an olive branch. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, interrupted by the cap and her head. The date is below. The reverse shows Gobrechts regular die for the year.
Barbers design was also used on other denomination patterns in 1870. These are the trime, the Standard Silver half-dime, the half-dime, the Standard Silver dime, the dime, the Standard Silver quarter, the Standard Silver half dollar, the half dollar, the Standard Silver dollar, and the silver dollar.

William Barber was born in England, married and came to the United States as an adult. He was the son of an engraver and had apprenticed to his father in the early years in England. Among other things he learned typesetting for cards and labels and fine silver engraving. He settled in Boston in September 1852 and worked for Gorham & Company, manufacturers of silver and gold jewelry. Barber was responsible for die making and pattern design for Gorhams trade medals and commemoratives. Eventually, as the Civil War was ending, James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver at the Mint, hired Barber as an assistant in 1865. Barber moved to Philadelphia and began designing patterns and medals for the Mint. One of his most famous medals was the one celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Americas Independence. When Longacre died in 1869, Barber became the fifth Chief Engraver at the Mint. He earned $3,000 per year in salary and held the position until his death in 1879. When he became the Chief Engraver, he immediately hired his unproven son, Charles to be an assistant engraver. This hiring was an example of the kind of patronage that Longacre had tried to eliminate.

William Barber was renowned for his pattern work and for the production of over forty medals. The dies and prototypes for these works were repeated many times over with slight modifications. One of Barbers most famous works was the Amazonian Seated Liberty quarter. In total, Barbers body of work is considered uninspired and inconsistent. However, he was one of the most prolific and influential pattern designers that had ever been employed by the Mint. He is probably best known for his Britannia inspired Trade Dollar that was made from 1873 to 1878 for circulation in China and other countries of the Far East. In 1878 Trade Dollars were discontinued, although proofs were made until 1885. One of Barbers negatives is that he was one of two Chief Engravers of the Mint not to have designed any major circulating coinage. He was responsible for the twenty-cent piece, but it was minted for only two years. Barber was succeeded at Chief Engraver by his son Charles.

The 1870 25C pattern J-887 has a high R7 rarity rating, which means that only 4 to 6 pieces are known. In its population report, PCGS shows this coin tied with one other in PR66 with none finer. At CAC, as of July 2012, it is unique. NGC has none listed in its population report.