The 1839 Gobrecht Dollar. These were released into circulation and are now considered by many to be regular issue and not patterns. Much controversy surrounds this issue. There are 2 theories revolving around them. The first theory originally espoused by Walter Breen and championed by Robert W. Julian and Craig Sholley believed that originals were struck in alignment I. We recommend reading their article in the July 31, 2007 edition of Numismatic News. The second theory by James Gray and Mike Carboneau believe that originals were struck in die alignment IV. To view these articles, click here. Research is still ongoing on these but we believe that the die alignment IV pieces struck from perfect dies, like the Smithsonian example - in the earliest die state known - are in fact the originals. The Smithsonian example was struck using a collar containing 181 reeds just like the 1838. It is not known if later restrikes used a different edge collar. Complicating things further is an October 6, 2009 Numismatic News article by Robert Julian which states that all of the 1839 dated striking was destroyed. Research on all of this continues!! John Dannreuther has discovered that the working dies for this and J84/P93 were made from the same master die which originally had Gobrecht's name on the base as on J60/P65. Remnants of Gobrecht's name as well as several graver lines to efface the letters can be seen in the above image below. Image courtesy of PCGS & John Dannreuther. For additional information on these click here for Part 1 or Part 2 where a sequence is supplied at the end of the article. Restrikes were struck in both die alignment III with 182 reeds and alignment IV and show any or all of the following die cracks. 1. Through the tops of the letters ITE in UNITED. 2. Through the tops of the letters MERI in AMERICA. 3. Through the bases of the letters LAR in DOLLAR. The alignment IIIs are rarer than the alignment IVs. For additional information on this, click here. Examples were struck as follows: Silver with a reeded edge J104/P116 with several hundred known. Alignment III restrikes being much rarer than alignment IV as expected if many of the alignment IVs are originals. Fewer than a dozen are known in silver with a plain edge J105/P117. There is also a unique example struck in copper with a plain edge J107/P119. Both of these were struck in die alignment III. The listing in Judd and Pollock for a reeded edge copper example J106/P118 has been discredited. For additional information on this and all copper Gobrecht dollars, click here. Photo courtesy of Superior.