1871 Pattern Dollar. Judd-1148, Pollock-1290. Rarity-7-. Copper. Plain Edge. Proof-65 RB (NGC).
Obv: Liberty is seated left with the date 1871 below and 13 stars arranged around the border. Liberty wears a Native American headdress, a liberty pole in her right hand while her left rests atop a globe inscribed LIBERTY. Two flags are behind the portrait, one of which is inscribed with 22 stars. Rev: The same design that the Mint used to strike regular issue Liberty Seated dollars of the Motto type. Extravagant steel-blue and olive-gold overtones with flashes of deep rose-red color shining forth from isolated areas. Truly a delight to behold, this supremely attractive Gem also sports a razor sharp strike, silky smooth texture, and appreciably reflective finish. A prolific pattern design of the early 1870s, James Longacre's so-called Indian Princess motif appears on coins of several denominations, as well as in multiple varieties. The specimen offered here was struck from a modified obverse die attributed to William Barber, the most significant difference from Longacre's original being an increase from 13 to 22 stars on one of the flags behind Liberty's portrait. Examples of this type were distributed to contemporary collectors as part of pattern Proof sets. Judd-1148 has an extant population of more than a dozen coins (per the uspatterns.com website), this being one of the finest certified, and certainly also one of the most visually appealing available to today's numismatists.
PCGS# 71410. NGC ID: 26W8.
NGC Census: 2; 1 finer in this category (Proof-66 RB). The corresponding PCGS Population is 2/3 (Proof-66+ RB finest). There are no RD examples listed at either service.

Estimate: $10300