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New addition, an 1825 quarter eagle

Started by BillJones,

16 posts in this topic

BillJones

BillJones

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After issuing 2,710 quarter eagles in 1808, the U.S. mint did not strike another $2.50 gold piece until 1821. That year the mintage totaled 6,448 pieces. There was not much demand for quarter eagles from those deposited gold for coinage. For the life of this type, which ran from 1821 to ’27, the mint made only 14,642 quarter eagles. The most frequent use for these pieces was to use them to pay the salaries of members of Congress. For that reason most of the survivors grade from AU to the low level Mint State grades, MS-61 and 62.

 

In 1829, the mint made a technical change to the way it minted quarter eagles. In the past the edge reeding was added in a separate operation and the coins were struck with an “open collar.” Starting in 1829 the mint switched to the “close collar.” That eliminated the need to place the reeding on the coin via a separate operation and also gave the coins a uniform diameter.

 

The Coinage Act of 1834 reduced the weight of U.S. gold coins to a ratio of 16 to 1 with the silver coinage. Since all of the earlier pieces contained more gold than their face value, a very large percentage of the pre 1834 gold coins went to the melting pot. Hardest hit were the coins from the 1820s and ‘30s. Today many of the quarter eagles and half eagles from that era are rare dates.

 

This 1825 quarter eagle is the most common date and variety in the series, but “common” is a relative term. John W. Dannreuther and Harry Bass estimated that only 80-100 of these coins have survived. As such I would characterize this coin as a “stealth rarity.”

 

This coin is in a PCGS MS-61 holder. I have also posted pictures of the “close collar” type. Although the coins are quite similar, the die work and overall relief, in addition to the edge treatment, are different.

 

1825 "open collar" $2.50 gold

 

1825250O.jpg1825250R.jpg

 

1829 "close collar" $2.50 gold

 

1829QuarterEagleO.jpg1829QuarterEagleR.jpg

 

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BillJones

BillJones

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OK. Here are the photos with all the warts BEFORE she went to the plastic surgeon. :fear:

 

Seriously almost all of the coins in MS-61 holders are really AU-58.

 

1825quartereagleO.jpg1825quartereagleRjhpg.jpg

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EZ_E

EZ_E

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from 1821 to ’27, the mint made only 14,642 quarter eagles.

 

That is one sexXxy fat girl!!!

 

You're an amazing man, Bill! (worship)

 

That should be worth at least 950 registry points!

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BillJones

BillJones

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Sharp looking coin Bill, I would like to see a photo that shows the coin a little more accurately.

 

Thanks guys. (worship)

 

The thing you have to remember about these coins is that the mintages were so low that the dies hardly had time to wear out. This resulted in proof-like surfaces which showed every mark to its fullest advantage. Using 10X I can't see wear on this piece, only marks, which makes it a low end Mint State coin from the techical point of view.

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BillJones

BillJones

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The one bit of advice that I can give to those who are thinking about buying an example of this type coin is that you have to adjust your eye appeal standards a little bit. This was one of the last projects that mint engraver Robert Scott took on at the mint. By this time he was 77 years old and his eye sight was failing. Nevertheless, he was secure in the job.

 

The devices on these coins, especially the bust of Liberty, are in low relief, and the design does not bear up well in circulation. Add to that the fact that nearly all of these coins have proof-like surfaces which emphasize every mark, and it does not take many marks to make the unattractive. William Kneass made the dies for the next type, the close collar quarter eagles. Although it is essentially the same design, his die work is bolder and held up better in circulation.

 

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