J-171A (J171A) 1855 1C PCGS PF55 CAC.R-8. This pattern cent is composed of 75% nickel, 12% copper, and 13% zinc. The coin is a light tan color with hints of blue-green on the obverse and lighter, even tan toning on the reverse. There is some luster on the eagle’s wings on the obverse and on the top of the wreath on the reverse. There is light, even wear on the high points of the design, consistent with the grade and confirmed by CAC.

The strike is weak in the centers of both sides. The 1855 pattern cent was proposed in order to reduce the weight of copper coinage. It was an experimental piece used to test an alloy which was different from the one in use, and it was used to test a new size and design for the one cent coin. The diameter is smaller than the Large Cents in use at the time. It uses Gobrecht’s Flying Eagle modified from the silver dollar of 1836 on the obverse, which was continued from 1856 to 1858 on regular coinage. Longacre changed the wreath on the reverse for the 1856 issue to an open wreath.

The coin’s rarity is R-8, which means it is unique or nearly so. The CAC population report shows 1 with 1 finer; the PCGS population is 1 with 4 finer.