Sale 1223 — U.S. Postal History and U.S. Gold Coins
Sale Date — Fri, 5 Jun, 2020
Category — $2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagles — Lots 9038 to 9043
Lot 9038 Obverse
Lot 9038 Reverse
Lot 9038
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1842 - O
PCGS #: 7726
Grade: AU 58 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4496102001
CDN CPG® Value: $5,940
Estimate: $3,750
Minimum Bid: $3,000
Realized: $3,300 (with premium $3,894)
Condition Notes
Deep orange-gold flashing crimson in angled light, remarkably strong and detailed strike which shows detail of Liberty and Eagle's feathers rarely seen on the examples we surveyed, including Mint State, barest traces of marks in field which we're imagining to justify the AU58 grade—we would put this beautiful and scarce 1842-O Quarter Eagle up against most of the examples with baseline MS grades—from the New Orleans Gold Hoard (NGC)
Commentary
Only 19,800 Quarter Eagles were struck at the New Orleans in 1842. It is decidedly scarce, with most examples in XF or lower grades, and many have weakness in the central areas of the strikes. In choice AU or MS grades, PCGS reports 9 AU58 (14 higher) and NGC 23 AU58 (15 higher).
Lot 9039 Obverse
Lot 9039 Reverse
Lot 9039
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1848 - C
PCGS #: 7750
Grade: AU 53 Service: PCGS
Identification #: 82462339
CDN CPG® Value: $3,750
Estimate: $2,400
Minimum Bid: $2,000
Realized: $2,350 (with premium $2,773)
Condition Notes
Brilliant yellow-gold luster and reflective surface, unusually sharp strike with much more detail in bust than typically found on 1848-C pieces, a couple of faint shallow marks, but this seems very conservatively graded at AU53
Commentary
Only 16,788 Quarter Eagles were minted at Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1848. As Garrett notes (NGC website): "The coins are difficult to grade and almost appear to be damaged. The strike is particularly weak on the central portions of the obverse around the word LIBERTY. A small portion of the mintage was sharply struck, and these coins command a premium."
Lot 9040 Obverse
Lot 9040 Reverse
Lot 9040
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1851 - O
PCGS #: 7762
Grade: MS 61 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4244310005
CDN CPG® Value: $5,000
Estimate: $3,250
Minimum Bid: $2,500
Realized: $2,600 (with premium $3,068)
Condition Notes
Lovely honey-gold luster and semi-reflective surface, as sharp a strike as one can expect (typical slight weakness in the wing tips), a couple of faint shallow marks, overall beautful eye appeal which exceeds its grade, from the New Orleans Gold Hoard (NGC)
Commentary
148,000 Quarter Eagles were minted at New Orleans in 1851. Although Circulated examples are available, Mint State 1851-Os are scarce, with NGC reporting 24 in MS61 (15 higher).
Lot 9041 Obverse
Lot 9041 Reverse
Lot 9041
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1861 - (New Reverse)
PCGS #: 7794
Grade: AU 55 Service: PCGS
Identification #: 21464972
CDN CPG® Value: $455
Estimate: $275
Minimum Bid: $200
Realized: $270 (with premium $319)
Condition Notes
Honey-gold with sharp detail and relatively little evidence of wear, slight discoloration around devices
Commentary
1,283,788 minted at Philadelphia in 1861, the first year of the Civil War.
Lot 9042 Obverse
Lot 9042 Reverse
Lot 9042
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1862 -
PCGS #: 7796
Grade: AU 53 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4340947003
CDN CPG® Value: $1,810
Estimate: $1,200
Minimum Bid: $950
Realized: $1,000 (with premium $1,180)
Condition Notes
Deep gold, strong strike, few tiny marks, slight discoloration around devices
Commentary
Only 98,508 Quarter Eagles were minted at Philadelphia in 1862. A popular wartime issue.
Lot 9043 Obverse
Lot 9043 Reverse
Lot 9043
Type: Liberty Gold
Denomination: $2.50
Year-Mint: 1862 -
PCGS #: 7796
Grade: AU 53 Service: NGC
Identification #: 4355029011
CDN CPG® Value: $1,810
Estimate: $1,200
Minimum Bid: $950
Realized: $1,000 (with premium $1,180)
Condition Notes
Dark gold with toning, strong strike, few tiny marks
Commentary
Only 98,508 Quarter Eagles were minted at Philadelphia in 1862. A popular wartime issue.