1871 3C J-1045, RB PR66+ RB 认证号40274681, PCGS号71304

Ron Guth

Judd-1045 is an 1871 Three Cent piece struck in Proof on a copper planchet.  These have been described as die trials (used to show how a design would strike up), but these were most likely made for sale to collectors.  These are very rare: Pattern researcher Saul Teichman suggests that perhaps half a dozen are known.  For its part, PCGS has certified only two examples, the best of which is in the Bob Simpson Collection.

A single, non-Proof (Mint State) example exists, but that may be a mint error.  Teichman believes it may have been struck on a miscut Cent planchet.  The circumstances are certainly suspicious and it is difficult to suppress the idea that it was deliberately made.