High Grade Huge O 1854 Quarter
1854-O Liberty Seated Quarter. Arrows. Briggs 1-A, FS-501. Huge O. AU-50 (NGC).
A scarce variety overall, and rare in such a lofty state of preservation, as most seen are in lower grades. The shape and size of the mintmark is unique to this issue, not seen on any other date or denomination. Walter Breen claimed to have discovered this variety in 1954, which due to the lack of Mint State examples (the finest graded by PCGS or NGC is graded AU-58) and the shortage of high grade AU pieces, it is plausible. This is a pleasing example of this elusive and conditionally challenging variety. Both sides are warmly and evenly toned in dove and pewter gray patina. Minimally circulated with most features fully defined. There is some contact from this brief time in commerce, but overall this is a quality example that would serve as a highlight in the finest collection of Liberty Seated or New Orleans Mint coinage. Although not as plentiful as the 1854 or 1855, the 1854-O is one of the more readily obtainable issues from the Arrows, No Motto portion of the Liberty Seated quarter series. This statement really only applies to well worn examples, however, since the 1854-O is scarce in the finer circulated grades and rare in Mint State. Also rare in an absolute sense is the specific Briggs 1-A variety of this issue, the popular and intriguing Huge O variety. Readily attributable to the unaided eye, this variety features a large, misshapen O mintmark that most numismatic scholars agree was hand cut into the die by an employee at the New Orleans Mint. During the 1850s all working dies were prepared at the Philadelphia Mint, those intended for the branch mints receiving the appropriate mintmark before being shipped to their final destination. It is highly likely that a "plain" reverse die for the Liberty Seated quarter was unintentionally forwarded to the New Orleans Mint, forcing personnel onsite to add the mintmark before using it to strike a portion of the 1854-O mintage.
PCGS# 5434. NGC ID: 23U7.
NGC Census: 2; 6 finer (AU-58 finest).