J-717a 10c 1869 Dime Pattern, NGC PF65. R-7+.  This rare, experimental 1869 Pattern Dime is the finest known Cameo proof at NGC and PCGS. It has bright cameo contrast with light silvery devices against mirrored fields. It has minimum hairlines and virtually no contact marks. The strike is above average with full details on Libertys head, the letters of the reverse, and the dentils on both sides.

The pattern dime was designed by Christian Gobrecht. The obverse of the coin shows the regular Seated Liberty die without the date. Liberty is seated looking over her shoulder to the left. She balances the Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY with her right hand and holds a staff on which is placed a Phrygian cap in her left. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds Liberty interrupted by her head and the capped pole. The reverse shows the coins composition written in three lines: SIL. NIC. COP. followed by a horizontal line with the date below. The coin is struck in nickel which is actually a combination of 76% copper and 24% nickel.

Although the composition is indicated on the reverse of the coin, none has actually been found made of silver, nickel, copper alloy also known as Ruolzs alloy. In addition to the present nickel piece, other strikings have been in silver and copper.

Montchal Ruolz was a French chemist who in 1841 discovered a process for gilding and silver plating metals with ease. He later discovered how to make steel and transform phosphorous metals. His patents include the nickel plaiting of copper, brass, bronze, and iron using a nickel-chloride solution. It wasnt until the twentieth century that copper-nickel-zinc alloys became known as nickel-sliver.

The J-717a pattern coin has a rarity rating of 7+, which indicates that 4 to 6 pieces are known. Only 5 J-717a patterns have been graded. In its population report, NGC shows the present coin to be unique in proof Cameo 65. The other pieces are a regular proof 65 and a proof 66. At PCGS the two pieces are also regular proof 64 and 65.