The Half-Union was a gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

 United States coin

United States coinage

United States coinage was first minted by the new republic in 1792. New coins have been produced every year since then and they make up a valuable aspect of the United States currency system. Today circulating coins exist in denominations: $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $0.50, and $1.00. Also minted...

 minted as a pattern

Pattern coin

A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strikes, to proof standard or piedforts...

 in 1877 with a face value of fifty US Dollars, weighing roughly 2.5 ounces. It was designed by Chief Engraver of the Mint, William Barber

William Barber

William Barber was the fifth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1869 until his death. He succeeded James B. Longacre in the position.-Biography:Mr. Barber was born in London May 2, 1807...

, who also designed several other pattern coins and the famous Trade Dollar

Trade dollar

-United States:The United States trade dollar is a silver dollar coin that was issued by the United States Mint and minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Carson City, and San Francisco from 1873 to 1885. Trade dollars intended for circulation were last produced in 1878 while proof coin production...

. As it is a pattern, it was never struck for circulation and, all known collectable versions today were made of copper. Only two examples were struck in gold, and today are in the Smithsonian.

External links

• 1877 PATTERN COINS, DIE TRIALS & FANTASIES