Impressively Sharp 1830 $2.50

1830 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-4. AU Details--Altered Surfaces (PCGS).

An incredibly appealing survivor from this scare issue despite the assigned grade. The complexion is somewhat bright and suggestive of an old dipping, but the eye appeal remains strong. Uniform olive-gold in color with considerable prooflike reflectivity in the fields. Traces of planchet adjustment are visible across Liberty's ear and the devices remain nicely defined throughout. Very sharp and free from any distracting abrasions. The quarter eagle was never an especially popular denomination in commerce and was not nearly requested by bullion depositors at the Philadelphia Mint as much as its bigger sibling, the half eagle. Many half eagles and eagles were shipped overseas, often to end up being used as bullion for European coins, when production of the quarter eagle was suspended beginning in 1808. When production resumed in 1821, the denomination was produced mostly in small quantities throughout the 1820s and into the 1830s. The entire production of 1830 quarter eagles was accomplished with a single die pair with only a single die state showing no clashing or lapping, as is often found on earlier issues produced in larger quantities. Because the coins saw comparatively little use in circulation, the quarter eagles of this era that survived generally show little wear. Mishandling the dime-sized coins was rampant and made worse by the softness of the metal. While a small mark on an eagle may not be easily seen, on a quarter eagle this same defect is amplified. The 1830 quarter eagle is rare in all grade levels: between 80 and 100 specimens are believed to still remain in existence. These survivors run the gamut in terms of preservation, mostly from VF through AU. With Mint State survivors highly elusive, this sharp AU example represents the finest realistically obtainable for many of today's advanced type collectors and gold enthusiasts.

PCGS# 7670. NGC ID: BFW8.

From the Francesca Collection.