298
|
Session Three - Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 5:00 pm
Enlargement
1876
1862
.
PCGS graded MS-61
. Light obverse tarnish. Only
98,508 minted of which merely 140 examples are estimated to
have survived.
Pop 7; 17 finer
. (
PCGS # 7796
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$4,000 - 4,250
Enlargement
1877
1862
.
PCGS graded MS-61
. The surfaces are sharply struck
throughout, and free of individually mentionable abrasions
despite overall scuffiness that helps explain the BU designation
from PCGS. Mostly yellow-gold color with a hint of red at certain
light angles. The 1862 is the first of the low-mintage (98,508
pieces produced), Philadelphia Mint quarter eagles from the
Civil War era. Examples are scarce-to-rare in all grades with
most Mint State specimens in the latter category.
Pop 7; 17
finer at PCGS.
(
PCGS # 7796
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$4,000 - 4,250
1878
1862 NGC Unc Details
. Improperly cleaned. A nominal mint-
age of 98,508 Liberty quarter eagles was produced in 1862. As
a result of the Civil War and later conditions, few examples were
saved for numismatic purposes. This sharply detailed example
exhibits lightly abraded yellow-gold surfaces with a number of
hairlines that suggest a light cleaning in the past. (
PCGS #
7796
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,000 - 1,100
1879
1862, 2 over 1. FS-002
.
NGC graded AU-55
. Currently,
NGC has certified a mere eight coins at this level with just 30
finer. The discoverer of this overdate variety is believed to be
the late Aubrey Bebee who was a dealer and collector. In his
1988
Encyclopedia
, Walter Breen states that there are only 'pos-
sibly 12 known, none UNC.'Since the time of the author's writ-
ing, a number of additional examples have been confirmed,
including Uncirculated examples. This is a coin that no
advanced collection of 19th century gold should be without.
(
PCGS # 7797
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,800 - 2,900
1880
1865 PCGS graded Genuine Fine Details
. One of the
famous rarities in the Coronet quarter eagle series, and one of a
tiny mintage of only 1,520 business strikes. Early research led
Walter Breen to believe the business strikes were more rare
than proofs, of which only 25 were minted. PCGS suggests that
somewhere between 35 and 40 pieces still exist, so the 1865 is
still a very elusive quarter eagle in any grade. This piece is well
worn with a polished appearance. Still, the emphasis here is on
rarity and not condition, of which the 1865 quarter eagle obvi-
ously excels. (
PCGS # 7801
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,200 - 1,300
1881
1873. Closed 3 PCGS graded Genuine Unc Details
. Ques-
tionable color. An elusive variety that is widely collected, as the
Open 3 variety is much more common. A personal examination
is recommended. (
PCGS # 7817
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $300 - 325
Enlargement
1882
1888
.
PCGS graded MS-65 PQ.
CAC APPROVED.
Frosty
honey-gold with some subtle rose highlights. Gem Uncirculated
quarter eagles of the era are desirable and scarce due, in part
to their low initial production figures. Only 16,001 quarter
eagles were struck for circulation this year. Currently, there are
no finer examples graded at PCGS.
Pop 20; none finer at
PCGS.
(
PCGS # 7840
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$4,000 - 4,400
