Liberty $2 1/2 Quarter Eagles, 1840-1907

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the "Coronet," or Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, was issued annually for 67 consecutive years between 1840 and 1907. These coins were issued from the Philadelphia, New Orleans, Charlotte, Dahlonega, and San Francisco Mints. Like most other gold and silver issues, Liberty Head Quarter Eagles disappeared from circulation during the early years of the Civil War, and were not seen again in large numbers until specie payments were resumed in 1876.

There are a number of issues with the Liberty Quarter Eagle series that are very rare to exceedingly rare yet the prices realized for such issues are not much more than coins encountered far more frequently. Lately, the values for Liberty Quarter eagles produced at the branch mints of Dahlonega and Georgia have increased dramatically in all conditions, this market movement due, in whole, to a number of collectors entering into the market all vying for the same coins.

While this series has its share of rarities, perhaps one of the best known pieces is the 1848 with "CAL." counter stamped on the reverse above the eagle. These coins were struck from gold sent to the Secretary of War from the military governor of California. After it had been turned over to the Mint, this gold was coined into quarter eagles. The "CAL." counter stamp was added to the coins while they were still in the dies, signifying that they were the first federal coins struck from gold received at the Philadelphia Mint from the large California gold discoveries. Today, this first U.S. "commemorative" is one of the most highly-prized U.S. gold coins.

Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issued Date: 1840-1907
Composition: 0.900 parts gold, 0.100 part copper
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 64.5 grains
Edge: Reeded
Mint marks: Philadelphia (none); Dahlonega (D); Charlotte (C); New Orleans (O); San Francisco (S)
Total Business strike mintage: 11,921,024
Total Proof strike mintage: 4,296

The obverse depicts Miss Liberty, her hair in a bun secured with a string of beads, wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, facing left, her head circled by stars, and with the date below. The reverse depicts an eagle with a shield on its breast, perched on an olive branch and holding three arrows. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Key Dates:
1848 CAL (also #54 of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins & also one of the CU3000 Key Dates & Rarities in EF40, AU55, MS63 and MS64 grades)
1841 (Proof) (also #86 of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins)
1854-S (also #87 of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins)
1863 (Proof) (also #88 of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins & also one of the CU3000 Key Dates & Rarities in PR63 and PR64 grades)