I just wanted to give some more information about the issue.
These are the log messages produced by pcscd when the simple Java application is running in 32-bit mode ...
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:217:SHMProcessEventsServer() Common channel packet arrival
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:226:SHMProcessEventsServer() SHMProcessCommonChannelRequest detects: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/pcscdaemon.c:256:SVCServiceRunLoop() A new context thread creation is requested: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:178:ContextThread() Thread is started: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 48
<== SHMMessageReceive:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F8 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 F8 4A A8 B5 76 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:148:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 12 bytes
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 12
<== SHMMessageReceive:
00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 09 34 91 38
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:153:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message body error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:293:SHMProcessEventsContext() correctly processed client: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:242:ContextThread() Client is protocol version 3:0
==> SHMMessageSend:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F8 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 F8 4A A8 B5 76 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 48
<== SHMMessageReceive:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F1 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 01 4A A8 B5 76 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:148:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 12 bytes
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 12
<== SHMMessageReceive:
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:153:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message body error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:293:SHMProcessEventsContext() correctly processed client: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard.c:199:SCardEstablishContext() Establishing Context: 17002257 [0x01036F11]
==> SHMMessageSend:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F1 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 01 4A A8 B5 76 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 03 6F 11 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:461:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive: peer closed the socket
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0xFFFFFFFF, bytes read: 0
<== SHMMessageReceive:
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0xFFFFFFFF [0xFFFFFFFF]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:282:SHMProcessEventsContext() Client has disappeared: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:199:ContextThread() Client die: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard.c:210:SCardReleaseContext() Releasing Context: 17002257
... and these when running in 64-bit mode ....
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:217:SHMProcessEventsServer() Common channel packet arrival
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:226:SHMProcessEventsServer() SHMProcessCommonChannelRequest detects: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/pcscdaemon.c:256:SVCServiceRunLoop() A new context thread creation is requested: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:178:ContextThread() Thread is started: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 48
<== SHMMessageReceive:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F8 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 F8 4A A8 B5 A6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:148:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 12 bytes
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 12
<== SHMMessageReceive:
00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 26 25 41
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:153:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message body error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:293:SHMProcessEventsContext() correctly processed client: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:242:ContextThread() Client is protocol version 3:0
==> SHMMessageSend:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F8 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 F8 4A A8 B5 A6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 48
<== SHMMessageReceive:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F1 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 01 4A A8 B5 A6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:148:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 12 bytes
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0x00000000, bytes read: 12
<== SHMMessageReceive:
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:153:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message body error: 0x00000000 [0x00000000]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:293:SHMProcessEventsContext() correctly processed client: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard.c:199:SCardEstablishContext() Establishing Context: 16995192 [0x01035378]
==> SHMMessageSend:
12 34 56 78 00 00 00 3C 00 00 00 F1 00 00 01 F5 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 01 4A A8 B5 A6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 03 53 78 00 00 00 00
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:119:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: Issuing read for 48 bytes (header)
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:461:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive: peer closed the socket
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:500:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive errno: 0x00000000: no error
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:501:SHMMessageReceive() SHMMessageReceive retval: 0xFFFFFFFF, bytes read: 0
<== SHMMessageReceive:
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg.cpp:122:SHMClientReadMessage() SHMClientReadMessage: read message header error: 0xFFFFFFFF [0xFFFFFFFF]
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_msg_srv.c:282:SHMProcessEventsContext() Client has disappeared: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard_svc.c:199:ContextThread() Client die: 7
/SourceCache/SmartCardServices/SmartCardServices-36160/src/PCSC/winscard.c:210:SCardReleaseContext() Releasing Context: 16995192