Object Details
- designer
- Barber, William
- Description
- Patterns and experimental pieces form one of the most interesting groups of specimens associated with official coinage. It was customary for the Mint to provide samples of a proposed coin. More patterns were made in 1877 than in any other year. The Gold Rush in California prompted the merchants and bankers in San Francisco to lobby Congress for gold pieces of high denomination for quick counting purposes when a branch mint was established in their city in 1854. The design for the proposed large coin was similar to the $20 double eagle. Senator William Gwin of California introduced a bill for the adoption of this coin. His bill passed the Senate but failed to win approval in the House of Representatives. Although the coin was not approved, the proposal for such a large coin was feasible only after enough of the precious metal was available with the discovery of vast quantities in California. The depiction of Liberty on the obverse was a familiar symbol of national identity by 1877 for Americans.
- Credit Line
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, United States Mint
- 1877
- ID Number
- 1986.0836.0060
- accession number
- 1986.0836
- catalog number
- 1986.0836.0060
- Object Name
- coin
- pattern coin
- Physical Description
- gold (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: .3 cm x 5.11 cm; 1/8 in x 2 in
- place made
- United States
- Related Publication
- Glossary of Coins and Currency Terms
- Related Web Publication
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/coins/glossary.cfm
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
- Coins, Currency and Medals
- Exhibition
- Value of Money
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_472684
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-ce43-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
