1859 P1c Copper, Shield Reverse, J-228 MS

1859, Shield Reverse, Cent Production: In late 1859, Mint Director Snowden requested a new reverse for the cent. The design was to be of a more patriotic character, as he noted in a letter to Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb on December 13.

As many as 1,000 examples were struck, and some were sent to the Secretary. The remainder of the small issue with us today is mostly in uncirculated condition. These have variously been listed as patterns (Judd-228) and regular issues in the past. Today these are still referenced as patterns, but more and more collectors of high-grade Indian Head cents include them in their collection of regular issues. This variety is an interesting addition to a collection, but you can decide whether it fits your collecting goal.

Survivability: Most of this mintage has survived in Mint State.

Collecting Circulated Pieces: Very few pieces are available in circulated grades— perhaps fewer than 50. The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is EF-40, but fewer than a dozen exist in this grade.

Collecting Mint State Pieces: The majority of these pieces survive in Mint State in MS-63 and MS-64. MS-63 is the optimal collecting grade. Some pieces exist in MS-65 or better, but these are more diffcult to acquire.

Why Are These Cents Called Patterns?: The question remains: Why are these pieces listed as patterns? It is unlikely that a design alteration like this would require the mint to produce so many examples. Typically, a few examples to show the design are all that is necessary for the purpose of deciding to make the change, as Howell Cobb did. Also these coins have the look and feel of a regular press run ready to be issued for circulation. In an 1860 book by Mint Director James Ross Snowden, The Mint Manual of Coins of All Nations, the first description of these coins is given. Snowden wrote: “Near the end of the year another pattern cent was struck. This is the same as the cent of 1860.” Apparently Snowden himself thought these were patterns. It is possible that this entry was made while they were in the development stage, before the larger scale production was made.

It is possible that the entire issue was purchased at one time by a dealer with good connections to the mint. A mintage of 1,000 coins would only be $10 face value. This could explain why very few ever made it into circulation.