1843-O Quarter Eagle

[Ferg-migration]

I am trying to find out if this coin is a large date, plain 4. I have had people tell me it is the large and one tell me it is the small date.

[DWLange]

The 1843-O quarter eagle is known only with a large date, though it may have either small or large letters on the reverse.

[Ferg-migration]

I have attached a pic of the back if that will help identify it.

[HaydenTubbs]

Here we go:

 

I don't know which is which

[HaydenTubbs]

It is a very nice coin though!

[lclugza]

I think in 1842 or 1843 the $2.50 and $5 switched from small latters to large letters. I don't remember if the $10 switched at the same time. Yours looks like large letters.

[DaveG]

You have a small date 1843-O quarter eagle. (Doug Winter, in his book on O-mint gold, divides the 1843-O quarter eagles into small date and large date varieties, he doesn't mention anything about a "Plain 4".) Winter estimates that the large date variety is half as common as the small date (about 100 survivors vs. about 200 survivors) and says that neither PCGS nor NGC recognizes varieties among the 1843-O quarter eagles, making the large date coin a "forgotten variety."

 

It's the 1843-O half eagle which has either the small letter or large letter reverse.

[Ferg-migration]

The Red Book Gives a big difference in value if the coin is a large dat3, Plain 4 over a small date, croslet 4. I am trying to determine which it is so I don't get screwed by someone that knows the difference.

Thanks for your help.