Elusive Choice AU 1853-D $2.50 AU-55 (PCGS)

1853-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS).

An incredibly attractive piece with pale golden-wheat coloration and blooms of richer honey shades around the design elements. The surfaces display considerable satiny luster and remain delightful smooth for the assigned grade. Only 3,178 quarter eagles of the date were produced, a modest mintage even by Dahlonega standards. As usual for Southern mint coins of the era, the typical specimen will be VF to EF with forays into AU. In Choice AU, as here, the issue is considerably elusive. Just 17 coins have been graded finer by PCGS and just a dozen of those are in Mint State, with the finest among those just MS-62. A rare date no matter how you view it and a coin that is worthy of a substantial bid.

PCGS# 7768. NGC ID: 25HW.

PCGS Population: 9; 17 finer through MS-62.

From the Francesca Collection.