J-302 1863 Cent Pattern - J-302 1863 1C  PCGS PR63 CAC. R7+. This rare, transitional With L, Proof 1863 Cent Pattern Indian is lustrous and pleasant. The coin is made from copper-nickel like the regular issue of 1863. Light brown and tan mix with hints of blue and gold confirming the originality of this lovely piece. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no visible hairlines or other distractions. The coin is well struck, as expected for a proof coin, especially on the ribbon that bears Longacres L. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece that fully merits the assigned grade.

It is not known why the Judd-302 pattern was struck. Bronze With L regular and proof cents were struck in 1864. It is theorized by Snow that the pattern was made at a later time, perhaps for the collector market, since it was made from a reverse die that was used on proof 1869 and 1870 cents. The pattern was also struck in bronze, oroide, and aluminum.

James B. Longacre designed the Indian Cent. The obverse shows Liberty facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed headdress. Her hair is combed back and over her ear and flows down beneath the truncation. A band with four diamonds is attached to the back of the headdress and comes over her hair past the truncation. She is surrounded with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with the date below. The reverse shows the denomination written as ONE CENT surrounded by an oak wreath with a Union shield at the top and a ribbon holding the parts of the wreath and three arrows together below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin, and the edge is plain. The tiny L (for Longacre) is on the ribbon.

Longacre was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. When he finished his apprenticeship in Philadelphia as a bookseller and a banknote engraver, he worked on his own as an engraver of book illustrations and bank notes. His works included one on the signers of the Declaration of Independence and another on stage personalities. In 1830, Longacre planned to do a series of biographies of famous men in the military and the political arena. In 1834 the result of this series became the National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans that was published in four volumes. Longacre and those who worked with him became famous because of this work.

In 1844 Longacre came to work at the Mint. He was opposed by Franklin Peale, the Chief Coiner. Peale was probably responsible for some blundered dies that Longacre was criticized for making. Peal was involved in a private, illegal medal manufacturing business using Mint facilities. He was concerned that this new political appointee would interfere with his business, and he resisted Longacres appointment as Chief Engraver. Finally in 1854, Peale was fired by President Franklin Pearce. Longacre flourished in his position and was responsible for creating many new designs including the Indian Head cent, the two cent piece, the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head gold dollar, the Indian Princess gold dollars, the three dollar gold piece, and the Liberty Head double eagle.

The 1863 Indian cent pattern, Judd-302, has a rarity rating of R7+, which means that 4 to 6 pieces are known in all grades. With 1, the present coin, certified in PR63, it is the third finest known at PCGS. At NGC is it tied for the finest known, and, as of February 2013, it is tied for the second finest known with 1 other in PR63 at CAC.