This was a relatively quiet year on the pattern front. The most important design of this year was the quarter eagle J189/P226 White metal splashers of both the obverse P3140 and reverse P3141 are also known. The obverse was also combined with the one cent of 1853 to produce J186/P222 Probably the most important event of this year was the hiring of Anthony C. Paquet. The quarter below J188/P225 is believed to be a precursor to a new reverse design which appears the following year. A half dollar splasher JA1857-2/P3134 and the following double eagle splasher JA1857-9/P3155 are also believed to be his work. The first anti-counterfeiting measure was tested using a double eagle reverse J190/P3158. This coin was made very concave in an effort to prevent the gold from being drilled out and replaced with a less valuable metal such as lead. Photos used are courtesy of Superior, Teletrade, Mike Byers, Northeast Numimatics and a scan from Bowers and Ruddy Garrett II sale. Go to Previous Page Or Next Page