$2.5 Gold

Two and a half dollar gold "quarter eagles" were first coined in 1796, in the footsteps of the higher denomination $5 and $10 half eagles and eagles struck a year prior. The denomination endured until 1929, and was struck in most years save for a brief hiatus in the early 1800s, when only the $5 gold piece was deemed imperative. Six major types were presented during the life of the denomination: Capped Bust Right 1796-1807; Capped Bust Left 1808; Capped Bust Left (revised) 1821-1834; Classic Head 1834-1839; Liberty Head 1840-1907; Indian Head 1908-1929. An example of the first year and variety, a 1796 without obverse stars recently sold at auction for almost $1.4 million. The 1808 is a one-year only type with a tiny mintage, and is highly coveted by advanced collectors for both its date and type. Capped Head left dates from 1821 to 1827 are 1.5 mm larger in diameter than those struck from 1829 to 1834. The Classic Head coinage, struck only from 1834 to 1839, offers affordable specimens, along with historic early C-Mint and D-Mint examples. Arguably the most famous Liberty Head quarter eagle is the 1848 specimen with CAL. incused in the upper reverse field. A reported 1,389 pieces were struck from gold sent to Washington from the California gold fields, and then submitted to the Philadelphia Mint for coining using the specially identified reverse die. Some scholars argue that this is America's first official commemorative issue, preceding the 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollar by nearly a half century. Indian Head quarter eagles offer a marvelous opportunity to assemble a complete date and mint set of a popular gold series. Just 15 pieces comprise the issue. In nice AU or lower level Mint State grades, all except the 1911-D are of equal value and affordable. The low mintage '11-D is the key to the series and more costly, but not prohibitively expensive.
Reference books on the denomination include: VARIETIES OF UNITED STATES QUARTER EAGLES by Walter Breen; GOLD COINS OF THE CHARLOTTE MINT by Douglas Winter; GOLD COINS OF THE DAHLONEGA MINT by Douglas Winter; A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO INDIAN HEAD QUARTER EAGLES by Michael Fuljenz and Douglas Winter; A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS by R.S. Yeoman; and the all encompassing COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U.S. AND COLONIAL COINS by Walter Breen.

Rare Dates: 1796 No Stars Obverse, 1808, 1841 Proof-Only, 1848 CAL., 1854-S, 1863 Proof-Only, 1875, 1911-D.

Famous Issues: 1796 No Stars Obverse, 1808, 1848 CAL., 1854-S. All Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint issues.

A Highlight $2.5 Gold from our Auctions

1901 Proof PCGS 65 DCAM