1879 Washlady Pattern Tribute – Another Vision of Liberty
Liberty’s elaborate coiffure gives this 1879 pattern design its unmistakable character. This modern tribute to Charles Barber’s “Washlady” half dollar brings the portrait and eagle to a round containing 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, making a distinctive corner of American numismatic art accessible in a substantial silver format.
A Design from the Pattern Cabinet
The historical half-dollar pattern is catalogued as Judd-1597, a silver issue with a reeded edge. The Washlady motif also appeared across other 1879 pattern denominations, from dimes through dollars. Known additionally as the “Society Lady” design, it belongs to the experimental side of coinage—the alternative portraits and compositions that collectors encounter outside the familiar circulation series.
That is part of the appeal of a pattern tribute. It offers a chance to study a different artistic solution to the same enduring challenge: how to give Liberty a recognizable face. Here, the gathered hair, inscribed headband, and agricultural ornament produce a richly textured portrait, balanced by a comparatively open eagle composition on the opposite side.
Design Details
Obverse: Liberty faces left with her hair tied behind her head. Wheat and cotton decorate the hair, and her headband reads “LIBERTY.” “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears above, with the date below and thirteen stars divided seven to the left and six to the right.
Reverse: An eagle holds an olive branch and three arrows. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” follows the border, while “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears in smaller lettering within the field. The modern tribute uses “TWO OUNCES” below, identifying its weight in place of the historical denomination.
Specifications
- Weight: 2 troy ounces
- Purity: .999 fine silver
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: Approximately 6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
Explore more numismatic designs in our silver round collection.
