The Kneass draped Liberty design here combined with a flying eagle reverse. Supposedly, these exist as both originals and restrikes. True originals should weigh 206 grains and should only have die cracks through "F Dollar * America" as seen on the Liberty seated patterns of this year J79/P89 and J79A/P86 with the latter actually being struck in July 1843 - see below for more on that. To date, none have been seen in this die state showing that these were produced later. The fact that the Mint collection does not contain an example may also be significant as this pattern would have been produced at the initial formation of the collection and likely would have been included if any were actually struck in 1838. The earliest die state seen is shown below courtesy of PCGS. These show a die break from AM in America to the eagle, a second from AR in Dollar to the eagle and a partial from the eagle heading toward the A in Half. Restrikes exist with additional reverse die cracks, rust and obverse wear and are believed to have been made from the late 1840s continuing throughout the 1860s and 1870s. W.E. Dubois may have sold one to Matthew Stickney as noted in a letter dated July 12, 1843 in the Peabody Essex Museum which specifically mentions the restriking of 2 flying eagle half dollar patterns, which could have been this and a J79A/P86 as both were in the 1907 sale of his collection although it is more likely that both were J79A/P86 as the J73/P77 in the Stickney sale is specifically mentioned as being struck from cracked dies. Dubois paid an extra $3 to have them struck. When were these J73/P77 coins struck ? We know from the Stickney letter that his J79A/P86 was struck in July 1843 and the Stickney plate does not show any radial die cracks. Even better, this coin was purchased by Virgil Brand (journal #38995) and per Kosoff's "An Illustrated History of U.S. Coins" went to Dr Judd. The Judd plate also shows no radial die cracks so we know that these must have been struck after this date. If these were not initially struck at that time then a more likely time was in early 1849 where George Eckfeldt's journal notes the following: "The flying eagle for half dollars cracked and good for nothing." We believe that 1849 is the actual date for the earliest die state seen on these patterns. In spite of this fact, the die was used anyhow on May 12, 1852 to strike additional pieces as shown below. It is unclear if the number struck was 15, 25 or 45. Restrikes made after 1853 should weigh 192 grains and may have various edge reed counts. According to a listing of reed counts by years supplied by Bill Bugert of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, those struck with 143-145 reeds were likely struck in the 1840s or early 1850s; those struck with 146 reeds were likely struck in the mid-to-late 1850s while those struck with 152 reeds were likely made in the 1860s. Many pieces exist with weights between the 206 and 192 grain standards. These pieces need to be examined on a coin by coin basis and the reeds counted to possibly determine when they were struck. Overall there are probably 50-60 known. All appear to have been struck in medal alignment. There is also a single example known in copper J74/P78. This coin, weighing 178.6 grains, is an obvious restrike believed struck in the 1870s with die rust on both sides and at least 5 die cracks running from the edge through the eagle. It is ex Woodside (NY Coin & Stamp 4/1892) lot 21, Elder's 22nd sale of 12/16/1908 lot 954, A.F. Holden, Norweb, New Netherlands 41st 9/53, Macy's 6/54, Heritage 2008 ANA as NGC66BN, Simpson-Heritage 11/20 - PCGS66BN and is illustrated below. Coin images courtesy of PCGS & Heritage. Images of Eckfeldt journal courtesy of Alan Meghrig. Image of the Stickney letter courtesy of David Stone.