prototype Public Deposited
1. A design adopted in the subsequent year. Examples: 1856 Flying Eagle cent, 1858 "Indian" cent of type of 1859, 1882 nickel without CENTS, 1876 $20 of type of 1877 (repositioned head, TWENTY DOLLARS). 2. A design of which one side is current, the other later adopted, though the combination may not appear on later production coins. Examples: 1858 "Indian" cent with regular rev. of 1857; 1876 $20 with head of 1877 and regular TWENTY D. rev.: also called transitional. 3. A proposed design which differs only in minor details from that later adopted. Examples: 1875 20 cent coin with small date and overlapping leaves; 1878 dollar without designer's initial M. Coins thought to be prototypes may in fact be restrikes or afterthoughts, pieces de caprice. Examples include the 1863-65 coins with motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
- Breen Encyclopedia