The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part II

The Famous 1841 "Little Princess" $2.50

The Classic Rarity in the Series

Fewer Than 20 Known

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335     1841 Proof-60 (PCGS). Extremely sharply struck. Brilliant rich gold coloration. Mirrorlike fields have evidence of friction as defined by the Proof-60 grade.

The fame of the 1841 quarter eagle is far reaching and long enduring. Indeed, this is the best known rarity in the entire series (not the most elusive in absolute terms; that honor goes to 1854-S, and certainly 1863 is in the running).

For many years the 1841 quarter eagle has been affectionately called the Little Princess by numismatists. And, indeed, among quarter eagles it is indeed a princess—court is paid to it whenever an example comes on the market.

The exact number known cannot be determined with certainty, as certain listings may represent duplicate appearances of the same coin. In 1977 when we offered the Fairfield Collection specimen (recently graded as Proof-40 by PCGS), we noted that at the time Walter Breen believed there were eight different specimens in existence, one of which was of questionable authenticity and two of which were in museums—leaving just five available genuine pieces. In our 1977 offering we noted that David Akers had traced 13 different auction appearances, including duplicate offerings of certain specimens. We concluded by stating that it was our estimate at the time that about seven to nine coins were known in collectors’ hands or estates.

In 1988 in Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins the most ambitious roster ever attempted was presented on page 494 and listed 12 other specimens, some of which may have overlapped, and at least one of which was "not verified." In addition, Breen noted that "others reported, mostly VF to EF."

In more recent times, our senior numismatist, Mark Borckardt, catalogued the Fairfield coin, Proof-40, for presentation as part of our Columbia Collection offering in November 1998. A fair amount of effort was expended, resulting in what was the most comprehensive study to reach print as of that time.

Now for the occasion of the Bass Collection coin we update the Borckardt study, adding the present coin as well as another piece in the Bass Collection, both of which were not recorded by Mark Borckardt at the time. This piece and the other Bass coin appear in the following listing as No. 2 and No. 3, with other listings adjusted by number accordingly.

PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (Proof-64 finest).

The 1841 "Little Princess" Quarter Eagle
A History, Appreciation, and Registry

(Latest Revision)
By Mark Borckardt

Although the existence of the 1841 quarter eagle was known almost immediately after it was struck, and a Proof was placed in the Mint Cabinet, very little was discussed in numismatic circles until these coins were a century old. The first substantive essay appeared in 1941 in B. Max Mehl’s sale of the W.F. Dunham Collection. Mehl, the well-known Fort Worth, TX, dealer conducted business from 1903 to 1957; Dunham was a Chicago pharmacist who was especially active on the numismatic scene in the early 20th century; his 1941 sale remains an American auction catalogue masterpiece, the high point of Mehl’s career. Prior to this sale, only three auction appearances have been located by the writer, the first in W.H. Strobridge’s catalogue of the George Seavey Collection in 1873. The collection of George Seavey was described in detail by W.H. Strobridge for a sale which was to be held in 1873. Prior to the sale, collector Lorin G. Parmelee purchased the entire Seavey Collection en masse and the sale never took place. Parmelee, a Boston baker of beans, had the most important cabinet of federal coins in the 1870s and 1880s, with Baltimore collector T. Harrison Garrett having the second finest holding. Parmelee’s coins were later dispersed widely, most notably in an auction in 1890, but on other occasions and in other venues as well.

The 1841 quarter eagle, which may have been struck only in Proof format, was not recorded in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, or in other Mint records, at the time of issue. This would seem to indicate that business strikes intended for circulation were not made, and that production was limited to Proofs for cabinet purposes. There is probably no other explanation, as certainly no secrecy was involved, nor were the pieces restruck.

A year later in 1842, Jacob Reese Eckfeldt and William E. Dubois recorded the existence of an example in the Mint Cabinet in their book, A Manual of Gold and Silver Coins of All Nations, Struck Within the Past Century. The 1841 was illustrated on Plate I from an engraving taken from a medal-ruling machine, somewhat of an innovation at the time. This device, which may have been invented by Christian Gobrecht, but was credited to others, made it possible for a stylus to trace over the surface of a three-dimensional medal and render a two-dimensional engraving of it. The Eckfeldt-Dubois volume was not primarily intended as a numismatic reference, but seems to have been sold mainly to bullion dealers and banks. Thus, no information was given concerning the rarity of the 1841 quarter eagle (if, indeed, it was considered rare at the time), nor was the rarity of other coins highlighted. This same volume represented the first appearance in print of the 1804-dated silver dollar; previously, collectors were not aware of the existence of a dollar dated this year.

In 1860, James Ross Snowden’s A Description of Ancient and Modern Coins in the Cabinet Collection at the Mint of the United States, referred to the issue as a "pattern" coinage. Between pages 128 and 129 is a fold-out "Statement, Exhibiting the Number of Pieces Coined at the Mint of the United States." This statement described the 1841 quarter eagles as "patterns" and notes "only a few specimens were struck, one of which is now in the Mint Cabinet." Snowden, who became director of the Mint in 1853 and who had a strong interest in numismatics, probably consulted Dubois, who at the time was the Mint historian, on the subject of the 1841 quarter eagle. Sometimes the term "pattern" was used interchangeably with "Proof," and referred to limited-production pieces made for cabinet purposes, not necessarily to experimental designs (the definitions are different from what we use today). Snowden left the Mint in 1861 at the end of James Buchanan’s presidency. His interest in numismatics continued, and he remained a member of the Philadelphia Numismatic Society and retained his contacts with collectors. Until the situation went "underground" in early summer 1859, Snowden openly announced that the Mint would obligingly make restrikes of rarities for collectors, especially if such were exchanged with Washington tokens and medals needed by the Mint Cabinet, Washington pieces being the primary focus at the time.

The next auction appearance of an 1841 quarter eagle located by the author is an example appearing in the 1890 New York Coin and Stamp Co. catalogue of the Lorin G. Parmelee Collection. Lot 1122 was simply described "[1841] Quarter Eagle; very good." There was no plate in the sale, however, this may be the same as a few later offerings at the same grade level. Of course, an 1890s "Very Good" may have been much different from the specific grade that "Very Good" identifies today in 1999; back in 1890 it could have referred to a coin that was simply a "very nice" example.

Another 29 years passed with little mention of this issue until Edgar Adams issued his Official Premium List of United States, Private and Territorial Gold Coins in 1909. He noted the existence of two examples: the specimen in the Mint Cabinet and an example owned by Joseph C. Mitchelson of Connecticut (although Mitchelson was not mentioned by name). Two years later, in 1911, Mitchelson passed away and his collection went to the State of Connecticut through terms of his will. Mitchelson’s collection is now housed in a special room and vault at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. Adams wrote: "Only two of these coins are known to be in existence. One is owned by a private collector in Connecticut, and the other specimen is in the United States Mint Collection at Philadelphia. The mint records, however, do not mention the issue of a quarter eagle in this year at the parent mint." It was popular years ago for numismatists to refer to the Philadelphia Mint as either the "parent mint" or the "mother mint." Such terminology is not often seen today.

Virtually nothing new was mentioned about the 1841 quarter eagle until B. Max Mehl’s aforementioned offering of an example in the Dunham Collection, in June 1941, 100 years after they were struck. Today in 1999, B. Max Mehl is viewed with mixed emotions. Some consider him to be a numismatic showman with little serious knowledge, while others credit him as being the most important rare coin dealer of the early 20th century. The truth is actually a combination of both. While Mehl is not particularly remembered for his technical numismatic knowledge, he certainly handled his share of rarities, and today his catalogues are highly esteemed for the collections they showcased. And, among his descriptions are some that are of excellent value to researchers today, including the Dunham description of an 1841 quarter eagle:

"1841 quarter eagle or $2.50 gold of the Philadelphia Mint. Finely milled edge, typical of the Philadelphia Mint gold coinage of these years, and not the coarse milling of the Charlotte Mint. This rarity was originally struck as a Proof and still maintains quite a bit of Proof lustre around the stars and legend, but has seen some circulation. It can easily be classed as Extremely Fine and only a shade from Uncirculated. I doubt if more than six specimens are known to exist. As noted, there is no record of the 1841 Philadelphia Mint quarter eagle coinage in government documents. This ties in nicely with the policy that Proofs were not recorded in the mintage figures, although business strikes usually were.

"To the best of my knowledge the only other specimen ever to have been offered at auction in this country was the one sold in my sale March 26th of last year [1940]. The coin was fine, and it sold for $605.00. As mentioned in my catalog of that sale, Mr. Adams, in his ‘Official List,’ published in 1909, stated that only two specimens of this coin were then known to exist, one in the Mitchelson Collection, now owned by the State of Connecticut, and the other in the United States Mint Collection, both specimens of which, of course, are out of the market for all time. Four or five specimens have been discovered since Mr. Adams’ work appeared in 1909. The first of these specimens, discovered about 11 years ago, was sold at private sale for over $3,000.00. Since then other specimens have sold for less, but above $1,000.00. The last specimen offered, as mentioned above, brought $605.00. I consider it probably the rarest quarter eagle and one of our very rarest gold coins."

This issue has been nicknamed the "Little Princess" for many years. The first located use of this term seems to have appeared in the catalogue of the Davis-Graves Collection, written by Norman Stack and sold by Stack’s in 1954. The text noted:

"This 1841 quarter eagle is the only one available today and we like to call it the ‘Little Princess’ in the coin rarities." Perhaps this comment derived from or was inspired by the earlier comparison made in 1946 by Abe Kosoff in the Numismatic Gallery sale of the World’s Greatest Collection (F.C.C. Boyd). In that sale, Kosoff compared this rarity to the 1822 half eagle: "While it is not quite as rare as the ‘King of American Gold,’ namely the 1822 half eagle, it is just as beautiful and this specimen in Proof condition is just as difficult to obtain."

All examples of the 1841 quarter eagle were struck from a single pair of dies. However, it is not known whether after the Proofs were made, it was the intention of the Mint to produce business strikes, or whether any business strikes were actually made. In his Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, Walter Breen noted that these were only struck in Proof. Earlier, in his auction survey of gold coins, David W. Akers was not convinced that all were struck as Proofs.

Especially significant to the discussion, an offering of an 1841 quarter eagle in the Mid-American sale of May 1985 has a comment originating from John Dannreuther indicating that the 1841 and 1846 Proof quarter eagles in the Eliasberg Collection sale were struck from the same reverse die. This provides additional evidence for those who believe all examples of the Little Princess were intended as Proofs.

In his Analysis of Auction Records, David Akers discussed this coin in detail:

"The 1841 is generally considered to be the most desirable of all Liberty Head quarter eagles. There is no official record of this date having been struck, but obviously a small number were minted. Most numismatists and cataloguers feel that this is a Proof-only date and that all known specimens were originally struck in Proof for inclusion in presentation sets. This seems unlikely to me and I am not convinced that the 1841 is a Proof-only date.

"First of all, there are far too many specimens known when compared to other Proof quarter eagles (or Proof gold of any other denomination) of the same period. Less than five Proofs are known of every other quarter eagle from 1840 to 1848, and yet I would estimate that at least 12 and possibly as many as 15 1841s are known. Only a few of them are clearly and unequivocally Proofs, such as the coin in the Smithsonian Institution, the piece in Louis Eliasberg’s collection, the Davis/Graves coin, and perhaps one or two others. Most of the others are well circulated and, in fact, grade from VG to EF. More importantly, the supposedly "impaired Proofs" just don’t look like impaired Proofs. Consider for example the Wolfson specimen, which was subsequently in the Shuford Sale and then in the 1974 NASC Sale conducted by the American Auction Association. Although barely circulated, it has almost no trace of a Proof surface and few of the other characteristics of a genuine Proof (such as a square edge), although it does appear to have been struck from the same dies as the Proofs.

"If indeed the 1841 is a Proof-only date, it would be an interesting research project for someone to determine why such a large number (relatively speaking, of course) were struck. Certainly it was not for presentation sets since such sets would have included a half eagle and eagle as well. Or would they? Could there have been presentation sets that contained the minor coins and just the quarter eagle without the other two gold coins? Was there something special about the year 1841 that justified altering the normal pattern of making gold Proofs? On the other hand, if the 1841 quarter eagle is not a Proof-only date, as I believe, then why were so few struck and why was there no record of the mintage?

"As you can see, this coin poses many interesting questions and, for that reason, it is for me one of the most intriguing and enigmatic of all United States gold coins.

"All known specimens of the 1841 were apparently struck from the same dies. Since some pieces are obviously Proofs, this would normally indicate that they were all struck as Proofs since I know of no other non-Proof gold coins of any denomination or date that were struck from the same dies as the Proofs of the same year."

Today, in 1999, some questions have been answered, but others remain. It is now known that there are multiple instances in which dies used to strike Proof gold (and other) coins were, indeed, used to make business strikes. However, we still do not know whether this took place with the 1841 quarter eagle dies.

No record of the coinage of this issue has been found in contemporary government documents, as noted in the introduction to this article. However, it was not customary to keep records of Proofs struck, although business strikes were usually accounted for. Per contra, there are a number of authentic United States coins known which, obviously, were made as business strikes, but were not recorded in government records, notably the 1870-S half dime (presently unique) and the 1870-S Liberty Seated silver dollar (about 10 known); both of these issues have no indication of ever having been struck from Proof dies, but are strictly business strikes.

If all were struck in Proof format, perhaps the output was partially for collectors and partially for presentation or some other purpose, perhaps for some long-forgotten ceremony. In 1841 the quarter eagle was the smallest gold coin produced by the United States (the gold dollar did not make its debut until 1849). Thus, a civic, political, commercial, or other ceremony requiring gold coins as an honorarium or gift would find the quarter eagle to be convenient. If business strikes were made for general circulation, they were made from dies that had a full Proof finish.

To summarize the preceding, all known 1841 quarter eagles are from the same Proof dies. A number of pieces show signs of circulation and were "spent," which seems logical if some were used for presentation purposes in ceremonies and not sold directly to numismatists. If any coins were made for general circulation, they appeared as Proofs when first issued.

Relating to the numismatic aspects of the 1841 quarter eagle, as with any rarity, the authentication of any "new" specimen is mandatory. In the chronicles of numismatics there have been a few instances of "1841" quarter eagles being offered that were created by removing a C or D mintmark from an 1841-dated Charlotte or Dahlonega coin. Numismatists are more sophisticated now, and a piece that might have fooled an earlier generation would not likely pass muster today, especially if a simple test is made concerning the vertical edge reeding. The Little Princess has a very fine, closely spaced reeding in comparison to its Charlotte and Dahlonega counterparts. In Stack’s offering of the Samuel Wolfson Collection of United States gold coins, October 1962, under Lot 114 are excellent photographs of the edge reeding on coins from all three mints. The branch mint coins have edge reeding with rather wide spaces between each reed, described by Breen as coarse reeding. The Philadelphia Mint coin, however, has very narrow spaces between each reed, Breen’s fine reeding. B. Max Mehl noticed this difference in his 1941 catalogue of the Dunham Collection.

Registry of 1841 Quarter Eagles

Today in 1999, the 1841 Little Princess quarter eagle is recognized as a highlight of any cabinet fortunate enough to possess an example of this classic rarity. The following listing, revised from our earlier November 1998 listing, includes the Harry W. Bass, Jr. specimens and represents the pieces known to the writer:

This list is based on the roster in Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, 1988, to which certain corrections have been made and pieces added. The author is also deeply indebted to Philip Scott Rubin for providing much information regarding auction citations and for verifying certain information below. Rubin keeps an auction appearance record of many rarities covering the entire spectrum of United States coinage. Without his research, pedigree tracking would be much less complete. It is believed that no more than 16 to 18 different examples survive today, some of which are in institutional collections as noted.

1. Smithsonian Collection. Proof. National Numismatic Collection; Smithsonian Institution. This example was undoubtedly placed in the Mint Cabinet (which had been formed in June 1838) at the time of striking, 1841. • This specimen was illustrated in the Eckfeldt-Dubois Manual published in 1842, the first time the existence of this date reached print, as it was not included in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint.

2. Eliasberg Collection. Proof-63 (now in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, this piece to be offered next year in Part III of our auction presentation). Earlier pedigree: A.H. Baldwin; B.G. Johnson; Wayte Raymond; Waldo Newcomer; Col. E.H.R. Green; F.C.C. Boyd; Numismatic Gallery, World’s Greatest Collection (name given to the Boyd Collection), January 1946, Lot 108, $6,000; "J.F. Bell" (pseudonym of Jake Shapiro, Chicago financier); Numismatic Gallery, Memorable Collection (Bell Collection), March 1948, Lot 101, $5,750; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, United States Gold Coin Collection, October 1982, Lot 117, $82,500. "Some scattered marks, but overall quite beautiful." This was the last regular-issue gold coin to be acquired by Mr. Eliasberg on his journey to a complete set of United States coinage. • The story of this prominent Baltimore numismatist was told by Q. David Bowers in the 1996 book, Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.: King of Coins. Relative to other owners, Baldwin was and is a leading London numismatic firm; B.G. Johnson was a leading dealer in St. Louis for several decades and was an appraiser of the Virgil Brand Collection; Wayte Raymond was for many years a distinguished New York rare coin dealer, numismatic researcher, publicist of the hobby, and rare coin dealer; Newcomer hailed from Baltimore and put together a marvelous cabinet of American coins that was later consigned to B. Max Mehl for private sale; Green was a well-known eccentric millionaire, who collected everything from railroads, to all 100 of the 1918 24¢ inverted airmail stamps, to all five 1913 Liberty Head nickels; Boyd was a prominent executive, coin dealer, and numismatic connoisseur; Numismatic Gallery was the partnership of Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg.

3. Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. The coin presently offered. Proof-60 (PCGS). From World Wide Coins, February 1974. One of several important American rarities (others being the 1913 Liberty Head nickel and 1804 silver dollar) acquired by World Wide during that era. Harry Bass often liked to get nice things in pairs—perhaps proving the old-time adage that particularly fine things are found that way!

4. Mitchelson Collection. Impaired Proof. Joseph C. Mitchelson; Connecticut State Library. • Mitchelson was in the tobacco business in Tariffeville, Connecticut. In connection with his trade he traveled widely, coast to coast, in an era in which most people tended to stay in their home region. Not only did Mitchelson acquire pieces for his own cabinet, he also scouted for other collectors and handled many rarities.

5. Menjou Collection. Proof-60. Numismatic Gallery, Adolphe Menjou Sale, June 1950, Lot 1189, $5,100; R.F. Schermerhorn; Robert Friedberg; H.P. Graves; Stack’s, Davis-Graves Sale, May 1954, Lot 691, $6,000; Grant Pierce (not in the 1965 sale of his collection); Stack’s, August 1976, ANA, Lot 2787, $41,000; Superior Galleries, February 1991, Lot 2664, $66,000. "Full Proof surfaces and delicate contrast between devices and fields. Light signs of handling fail to detract from the coin’s overall appeal." • Menjou was well known as a movie actor in secondary parts; Schermerhorn was a Dallas numismatist, who, among other things, attended the King Farouk sale in Cairo in 1954; Friedberg formed the Capitol Coin Company and at one time had several dozen leased coin departments in various retail stores including Gimbel’s; the Davis-Graves sale contained many rarities including a notable 1804 silver dollar; Pierce was a midwestern numismatist.

6. Norweb Collection. AU-55. R. Henry Norweb; Bowers and Merena, March 1988, Lot 1970, $30,800; Superior Galleries, July 1989, Auction ’89, Lot 844, $30,800. • The story of Emery May Holden Norweb, and other family members and their fabulous collection was told by Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers in The Norweb Collection: An American Legacy, published in 1987.

7. Wolfson Collection. AU-50. Samuel Wolfson, Stack’s, October 1962, Lot 114, $15,000; Alex Shuford; A. Kosoff, May 1968, Lot 1731, $18,000; Stanislaw Herstal Collection; American Auction Association, February 1974, Lot 739A, $26,000. • Wolfson, an industrialist, lived in Florida, and began his numismatic interest when he looked over his son’s shoulder while the youth was collecting Lincoln cents; Shuford manufactured various products including adhesive tape and lived in North Carolina, many of his coins were cleaned or processed, while others, fortunately, were not "improved"; Herstal was a well-known Polish exile who lived in South America, whose collection was auctioned in a catalogue bearing his name, although the 1841 quarter eagle was consigned from another source.

8. Peters auction. Impaired Proof. Jess Peters, August 1973, ANA, Lot 821, $26,000. • Jess Peters, an Illinois professional numismatist, was prominent on the American collecting scene for many years and conducted several notable auctions containing not only American rarities, but more important to his specialty, coins of Central and South America and other countries.

9. Mid-American auction. EF-45. Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions (Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth, photography by Tom Mulvaney), May 1985, Lot 1223, $21,000; Superior Galleries, Heifetz Collection, October 1989, Lot 3995, $25,300; David W. Akers, August 1990, Auction ’90, Lot 1841, $23,000. Spot inside dentils over final S. • The Heifetz Collection was formed by violinist Jascha Heifetz. Akers was earlier general manager of Paramount International Coin Corporation, later to form David W. Akers, Inc., and in 1997-1998 to auction the John J. Pittman Collection.

10. Superior auction. EF-45. Superior Galleries, July 1986, Auction ’86, Lot 1345, $18,700.

11. Stack Collection. EF-40. James A. Stack, Sr.; Stack’s, October 1994, Lot 865, $66,000. Bright yellow gold with some mirror surface on the obverse around the stars. • James A. Stack, no relation to the coin firm of the same name, lived in Plandome, New York, and over a long period of years formed a very impressive cabinet.

12. Fairfield Collection. EF-40. Stephen Baer; Q. David Bowers; Arthur Lamborn; Bowers and Ruddy, Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1481, $19,000; Abner Kreisberg, Windsor Collection, November 1981, Lot 254, $19,500; Stack’s and Superior Galleries, Kramer Collection, November 1988, Lot 115, $25,300; Superior Galleries, May 1989, Lot 1751, $25,300; Superior Galleries, Heifetz Collection, October 1989, Lot 3996, $20,350; Bowers and Merena Galleries; Columbia Collection; Bowers and Merena, November 1998. Rim nicks at upper obverse and on reverse. Breen Encyclopedia plate coin. • The Fairfield Collection was an illustrious gathering primarily of rarities, by a New England collector who enjoyed quality and rarity and liked it even better if two, three, or four pieces could be had rather than a single coin. Auctioned by Bowers and Ruddy in 1977, the multi-million dollar sale achieved the highest price to that date ever recorded for a single coin auction event.

13. Dunham Collection. EF-40. William F. Dunham; B. Max Mehl, June 1941, Lot 1932, $525; "J.F. Bell"; Rarcoa, April 1963, Lot 108, $13,500; Rare Coin Company of America; stolen in December 1964 at the GENA Convention in New York. See Coin World, 12/30/1964, p. 76 for notice and illustration. The various photos of this coin are not sufficiently clear for further identification, however, this does not appear to be any of the others listed here. Walter Breen noted that this coin has field marks left of eighth star, before lower lip, and between the wing and base of D. • Dunham was a Chicago pharmacist. The era of his greatest activity seems to have been circa 1905-1920, during which time he published an easy finding list for Hard Times tokens, gave a prize for the person attracting the most members to the American Numismatic Association, exhibited widely, and did many other things. His collection was purchased outright by Mehl in the late 1930s, and certain pieces were privately sold from it, although this information was not generally realized until published by Q. David Bowers in The History of United States Coinage as Illustrated by the Garrett Collection, 1979. Certain items that were sold by Mehl earlier were allowed to remain in the Dunham catalogue, and appeared later in the "prices realized" list, although the coins had long since departed Mehl’s office by the time that the Dunham sale was held.

14. Herdman Collection. EF-40. Herdman Collection; Bowers and Ruddy, December 1977, Lot 6406, $17,500. Walter Breen, in his Complete Encyclopedia, noted that this is the same as the Empire Coin, however, the illustrations do not match. Donald Herdman, an avocado rancher, collected coins for many decades and was a participant in the Atwater, Menjou, and other "name" sales of the 1940s, having begun his interest when he acquired as a birthday gift a gold quarter eagle.

15. Empire inventory. VF-30. New York non-collector; Empire Coins (Q. David Bowers and James F. Ruddy); Empire Review, number 14, August-September 1961, p. 31; private collection; Arthur Lamborn (duplicate); Paramount, July 1985, Auction ’85, Lot 1419, $12,650. Note tiny nick at 9:00 on O in OF. Short diagonal field scrape below M in AMERICA. • Dave Bowers related to the writer that this piece literally "walked in" to Empire Coin Company and was owned by a lady in whose family it had descended. She had no collection or, for that matter, any other old coins at all. How fortunate it was that this single piece was one of the most famous of all American rarities!

16. Robison Collection. VF-30. Lester Merkin February 1972, Lot 368A, $11,000; Terrell Collection; American Auction Association, May 1973, Lot 1009, $10,050; Robison Collection; Stack’s, February 1979, Lot 115, $13,000. Small nick just left of star 7. Rim nicks above first S and A of STATES, above right wing tip, and below stop after final A. • Ellis Robison managed a large wholesale medicine and drug firm in Troy, New York, for many years, and built his collection primarily through the office of Charles and Arline French in the same city. Terrell was a pseudonym for a southern California collector, friend, and one-time business associate of Dave Bowers.

17. Hydeman Collection. VG-8. B. Max Mehl, March 1940, Lot 1324, $605; A. Kosoff, Hydeman Collection, March 1961, Lot 548, $600; Rarcoa, Saslow Collection, January 1969, Lot 399, $3,100; Abner Kreisberg, June 1970, Lot 1497. • Edwin Hydeman was a York (PA) department store owner who formed a fine collection, primarily through Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg.

The following appearances have not been identified among coins listed above and most likely represent duplication.

Spellman. Proof. Waldo Newcomer; Col. E.H.R. Green; Charles M. Williams; "J.F. Bell"; Clifford T. Weihman; Cardinal Spellman; Archdiocese of New York. This coin is described in various literature, including the catalogue of the Eliasberg Collection and Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. The author has not seen a photo and would be interested in learning more about this coin. Could this be a candidate for the Bass Collection coin presently offered?

Seavey. W.H. Strobridge, Seavey Collection, 1873, Lot 612. This is probably the same as the Parmelee coin described as Very Good. The catalogue does not include a plate of this coin. This catalogue used a simple numerical grading system with the coin assigned a number equivalent to Uncirculated, possibly through typographical error. It seems unlikely that Parmelee, who bought the entire collection before the sale took place, would sell a high-grade coin and keep a lower grade duplicate. In the late 1800s, this issue was not recognized as a rarity, as indicated by the price realized at the Parmelee auction, just 40 cents over face value!

Parmelee. Very Good. New York Coin and Stamp Co., Lorin G. Parmelee Collection, June 1890, Lot 1122, $2.90. Possibly the Hydeman coin, however, not illustrated in the Parmelee catalogue.

Christie’s. EF-40. Christie’s, April 1985, Lot 937. According to the catalogue, this coin was "hidden for many years in a safety deposit box." No previous pedigree has been established. Possibly the same as the Superior specimen, above.

Splendid and Rare 1841-C $2.50

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336     1841-C AU-55 (PCGS). Well struck and very attractive. Lustrous yellow gold. A quality coin as one has come to expect from the Bass Collection, with the contemplation that no doubt Harry Bass considered multiple examples of the 1841-C before centering upon the present coin.

PCGS Population: 9; 1 finer (AU-58).

Small C mintmark. Coarse reeding. Obverse with four-digit logotype slightly high. Reverse with crack from tip of eagle’s wing at upper left, through dentil, continuing on the flat rim to the edge.

Only 10,281 examples were struck.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 21, 1968.

Condition Census 1841-D $2.50

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337     1841-D AU-58 (PCGS). Light yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike in protected areas. Sharply and exquisitely struck. Lint mark and slight irregularity below right side of neck truncation and nearby edge, no doubt taken into consideration by PCGS.

If this piece, apparently unknown to Douglas Winter, were to be added to the Condition Census of 1841-D quarter eagles published in his 1997 version of Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint 1838-1861, it would be tied with numbers 3 and 4, both of which are classified as AU-58.

Of the 1841-D quarter eagle, only 4,164 pieces were made, apparently on a single day, April 30 of that year. Although Walter Breen noted that only one die variety was known, by 1997, Douglas Winter was able to describe three, all with a common obverse, but with three different reverses. Today the 1841-D is elusive in all grades.

PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (MS-62 finest).

Although the quantities struck of Dahlonega Mint quarter eagles would rise later in the decade of the 1840s, the early Coronet Head issues were made in only small quantities. Thus, virtually any and every issue in the early reach of the series can be considered to be scarce or rare today. The typical grade encountered for such pieces is VF to EF, and at the AU level each issue is, indeed, a rarity personnified.

Date logotype impressed into die at medium depth, and well centered. Horizontal crack from field opposite star 3 to Miss Liberty’s nose and high cheek, to hair, and interior break that does not seem to extend to hair, continuing through the back of the hair, and seemingly disappearing just before reaching star 11. This seems to be an interior break beginning and ending on the surface of the die, without yet reaching either border, a rather interesting situation among die breaks (which typically begin at a border and progress inward).

From Stack’s Metropolitan Sale, May 1968, Lot 685.

Exceptional 1841-D $2.50 Rarity

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338     1841-D EF-45 (PCGS). Fairly well struck. Light yellow gold. A coin with a pleasing aspect overall. When encountered, the typical piece is apt to be VF, showing extensive wear. The present coin is exceptional.

From Pine Tree Rare Coin Auctions’ sale of September 1993, Lot 423.

339     1841-D VF-35. Bright yellow gold. About what one might expect for an 1841-D quarter eagle—about median in the grade lineup. Interestingly, the present piece has the reverse die rotated to an alignment of 270° clockwise of vertical, instead of the normal 180°.

Obverse die as preceding, but with just a tiny trace of the crack among the hair beads; most probably, the wear on the coin has removed other traces that might otherwise be evident. Reverse die as preceding.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 21, 1968.

Notable 1842 Quarter Eagle

Prooflike AU

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340     1842 AU-55 (PCGS). Bright yellow gold. Slight evidence of prooflike surface. An elusive variety in all grades, the 1842 has been highly desired for a long time. Today in the grade offered here it is an extreme rarity, although, per the following quotation, some very low-grade pieces came to light earlier in the present century. Breen writes (Encyclopedia, 1988):

"Long believed of extreme rarity, but after World War I several low grade survivors turned up. Still prohibitively rare AU, unknown Uncirculated…"

The original mintage was only 2,823 pieces. If one assumes a survival rate of 4% or 5%, this suggests that perhaps 120 to 140 are known today, a very small quantity in relation to the popularity of the series.

PCGS Population: 3; none finer.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, November 14, 1967.

High-Grade 1842-C $2.50

Condition Census

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341     1842-C AU-55 (PCGS). A splendid specimen, above average in striking (although with some weakness at lower left of reverse). Bright yellow gold. A highly important piece that rates as a Condition Census example. Another prize for the connoisseur and specialist.

Of this issue, Douglas Winter has written: "This is one of the most underrated dates in the entire series and, as well, one of the rarest Charlotte quarter eagles. Like its immediate predecessor, this date is found weakly struck… any specimen grading Very Fine is quite rare; any piece which grades Extremely Fine or better is very rare…"

In our offering of the Columbia Collection last year we paid quite a bit of attention to a rather marvelous 1842-C in AU-50 (PCGS) grade, not knowing that the present coin would come to hand. One of the pleasures of professional numismatics is the continuing element of surprise. Sometimes a rarity will reappear within a year or two or three. Other times a long-expected coin will never turn up again.

PCGS Population: 2; 5 finer (MS-65 finest).

On December 22, 1841, a single obverse die for the 1842-C quarter eagle was shipped to Charlotte from Philadelphia, followed by another obverse on March 11, 1842.

Date logotype very deeply impressed into die, and slightly high. Reverse with upper right of mintmark embedded in arrow feather. Tiny crack from left border to eagle’s wing tip. Some light clash marks are seen near the eagle’s head.

From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 118.

Important 1842-D Quarter Eagle

High Condition Census

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342     1842-D AU-58 (PCGS). Lustrous light yellow gold. Excellently struck—notably so—including with far above average (but not needle sharp) definition on the eagle’s leg to the left. A highly important variety. Douglas Winter writes that no true Mint State pieces are known, and that six to eight are known at the AU level, seemingly clustered around the AU-53 category.

Interestingly, the latest edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins nonchalantly and naively lists and prices "MS-60" coins at $25,000. In fact, one can read this reference and conclude that every variety of Charlotte and Dahlonega quarter eagle is obtainable in this grade! Reality differs (see note).

PCGS Population: 2; none finer.

Date logotype high and more deeply impressed at the top of the date than at the bottom, indicating that the logotype punch was not driven in a true vertical alignment. Very minor traces of repunching under first date digit; this seems to be a slightly late die state after relapping. Reverse with D mintmark overlapping feather, with part of the feather visible at the center of the letter and a tiny part of the feather extending from the left of the upright.

Again we are confronted with a very small production figure, in the present case only 4,643 coins from a single pair of dies, all of which have the repunched date as noted above. Nearly all have disappeared, with the result that the population today is very low, possibly existing only to the extent of several dozen specimens. David Akers makes the eye-opening comment that the "1842-D is generally appreciated for its real rarity; it is every bit as rare as the 1854-D, 1855-D, and 1856-D, and certainly more rare than the latter two in grades better than EF." Walter Breen echoes a similar sentiment stating "usually in low grades; prohibitively rare above EF." Above we mentioned that the Guide Book of United States Coins nonchalantly lists MS-60 prices for all of the Dahlonega Mint quarter eagles, almost as if one could simply go out and pick them off a shelf. However, in actuality there are some issues that may not even exist in this grade, and which in AU grade are so rare that many years can elapse between offerings. It is readily seen by analyzing the commentary in our catalogue that casual price listings of Dahlonega Mint coins may be one thing, and the availability of such pieces may be something else entirely. Stated another way, never in the history of numismatics has anyone ever put together an Uncirculated set of Dahlonega Mint quarter eagles or even one in which a significant number of Uncirculated pieces were included.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.

Mint State 1842-O $2.50

Condition Census

"Unknown Grade"

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343     1842-O MS-61 (PCGS). A gorgeous Mint State example, somewhat prooflike, and of exceeding importance. "Unknown in Uncirculated," Walter Breen wrote in 1988, adding, "Prohibitively rare above EF." Opportunities in numismatics are where you find them, and here, indeed, is one of the most significant opportunities the quarter eagle specialist will ever find!

PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (MS-63 finest).

Considering that Walter Breen and certain other students never heard of an Uncirculated piece, the numerical population reports must be taken with a large grain of salt—could they represent pieces earlier called AU, or was the same piece resubmitted? We do not know.

Date logotype deeply punched into the die and well centered. Under extremely high magnification some incipient die cracks can be seen near stars 7 and 8. At the same time, some die finish lines are evident. Perhaps the cracks were from stress during the annealing process in die making, not from actual use. The discovery of an earlier die state would disprove this comment.

On the reverse the O mintmark is high with its upper right embedded in the arrow feather. A barely noticeable die break begins at the dot to the left of U (UNITED) and lightly continues to connect the bottom letters in the word, then extending to barely touch the eagle’s wing. Other breaks come from the border to the T and the D. A crack extends from the border to the second T (STATES), while another crack joins the bottom of TATES and the adjacent OF, and still another crack joins the bases of AMERICA, continuing to the ornamental dot past the final A, and then lightly to the D of the value.

All of the die breaks mentioned on this coin—obverse and reverse—are of such a delicate nature that a coin with medium wear would not reveal them. Thus, there probably will never be any such thing as a detailed study of die progression as not enough high-grade pieces exist.

Purchased from Rowe & Brownlee, June 25, 1968.

344     1842-O AU-50 (PCGS). A beautiful specimen in pleasing light yellow gold, similar to the vast majority of hand-selected quality pieces in the Bass Collection. Well struck and with a cameo-like appearance on the obverse, heightened by a prominent flat rim. Fairly scarce in all grades, especially so in the present form.

All known specimens are from a single pair of dies shipped from Philadelphia on December 23, 1841, to New Orleans. Obverse with date logotype very well centered (as determined by the spacing of the first digit in relation to the bust above and the dentils below). Obverse die perfect. The reverse with traces of a crack through ES OF and, separately, through much of the base of AMERICA.

Marvelous Mint State 1843 $2.50

Bass: "Best seen"

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345     1843 Large Date. MS-64 (PCGS). A marvelous specimen, a veritable showpiece! The obverse and reverse are fully frosty and lustrous and cannot appear much different than when this coin was struck over a century and a half ago. Some truly minor handling marks are seen in the field, no doubt from normal contact during the mintage and storage process. The overall strike is quite good, the exception being some slight weakness on the eagle’s leg to the left. Few equivalent coins have ever come to market.

PCGS Population: 1; none finer.

Harry Bass was fond of keeping notes for certain varieties that interested him. Over a period of many years he examined multiple specimens of nearly all gold coin varieties. Significantly, for the piece offered here he made the notation "Best seen."

Date logotype rather curious inasmuch as the first two digits are quite small, and the last two much larger! This is true of all quarter eagles of this year and mint. Interestingly, this same logotype was used to create the Large Date quarter eagles of 1843-C and 1843-O, and, even more interesting, dimes of 1843 and 1843-O. The overly large size of the last two date digits is so significant that it really should be mentioned in the standard texts, if only as a footnote.

When viewed under magnification, a hairline die break is seen extending from the neck truncation point, downward to the right to a dentil. On the reverse many parallel die striae are seen from the finishing process. Interestingly, on this die as well as on many other dies of the 1840s and 1850s, the striae are at about a 30° variation to the left of the vertical, extending from the upper left to the lower right. There must have some process at the Mint—a description of which we have not encountered—which dictated the finishing of dies in a certain orientation.

Further concerning the Large Date, the 1 and 8 are slightly small, and the 4 and 3 are larger, the 3 particularly oversized. The last digit also tilts slightly to the left, and an extension of its top would result in a line intersecting with the adjacent 4 below its peak. Although little has reached print concerning the process as employed at the Philadelphia Mint (where all dies were made), the four-digit logotypes seem to have been produced by taking individual date punches and stamping them into a matrix of flat steel. If a punch was impressed deeply into the matrix, an effect would be created such as the digit 1 here described. The matrix was then hardened, and one or more four-digit logotypes were produced by impacting a small rectangular piece of soft steel into the openings created by the punching of the four digits. The process invites further study and analysis, with the recent dissertation by Mark Borckardt in our Rare Coin Review No. 130 providing a jumping-off spot (see reprint of this article under our listing of the so-called "1846/5-O" $10 coinage).

From Stack’s sale of the Scanlon Collection, October 1973, Lot 2034.

346     1843 Large Date. AU-58. A high-grade example of this popular early date.

The writer believes that the Large Date logotype was the first made, this by December 1842 in advance of the year. No doubt the anomaly was noticed, resulting in the later production of the stylistically correct Small Date.

From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 80.

Remarkable 1843-C Quarter Eagle

Small Date, Crosslet 4

Condition Census

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347     1843-C Small Date, Crosslet 4. AU-58 (PCGS). A splendid specimen of one of the rarest and also most distinctive quarter eagles in the series, the "distinctive" part caused by the die bulge at the point of the bust of Miss Liberty—as struck and as always seen. No doubt this bulge was responsible for the retirement of this die at an early point, seemingly after only 2,988 were struck.

PCGS Population: 5; 3 finer (MS-61 finest).

Date in smaller numerals, all in the same size font. Logotype quite high on die, about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. The aforementioned bulge is very distinctive, and probably was caused during the die preparation process. If not, then a "perfect die" would exist, but we have never heard of such a piece or even a rumor thereof. Further, the die has cracked from the border to the bust tip, probably from weakness caused by the bulge. At the borders from stars 11 through 13 are some raised die file marks, and some die preparation striae are seen elsewhere. On the reverse the mintmark is high, with the upper right part embedded in the arrow feather. An almost invisible crack extends from the border to the top of the first S (STATES).

Walter Breen writes that the 1843-C Small Date, Crosslet 4 quarter eagles were delivered on April 28, 1843, struck from a pair of dies shipped from Philadelphia on December 23, 1842. The small date numerals are consistent with those used 1840-1842.

The same writer notes that the 1843-C Large Date, Plain 4 quarter eagles were delivered in five groups between June 30 and December 30, 1843. Using reasoning that Walter Breen employed in many different areas, he apparently made two assumptions: The pair of dies shipped on December 23, 1842 were the Small Date as these were sent earlier and, in general, Small Dates were made earlier (1840-1842). By default, according to his reasoning, the later coins would have been Large Date.

There are a couple of flaws in this. First, it could have been the case that the Small Date die was sent later or was simply on hand from an earlier date. The Mint did not carefully watch date sizes, and subtleties that are important to numismatists today were not generally recognized back then. Alternatively, the 2,988 pieces delivered on April 28 might have been the Small Date variety, but the die might still have been on hand and used again at a later date. Thus, the 23,076 pieces attributed by Breen as the Large Date might have included some Small Date varieties as well.

If Walter Breen’s figures are correct, 2,988 Small Date and 23,076 Large Date, then, all things being equal, Small Date pieces should be about eight times rarer today. However, such does not seem to be the case. Douglas Winter gives an estimate of 45 to 50 pieces known totally for the Small Date and 75 to 80 known totally for the Large Date; in other words, the Large Date is not even twice as rare, let alone eight times as rare. In his 1975 study of quarter eagles appearing at auction, David Akers noted that 17 pieces were described as being the Small Date and 55 as being the Large Date. Relative to the Large Date, Akers seems to be closer to the mark than Breen would be later (in 1988): "I would estimate that two thirds or more of the total mintage of 26,064 pieces [of all 1843-C quarter eagles] were of this variety."

From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 772.

Beautiful 1843-C Quarter Eagle

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348     1843-C Large Date, Plain 4. AU-55 (PCGS). Pleasing yellow gold surfaces. Much original mint lustre remains in protected areas, particularly around the rim of the obverse and reverse and among the letters and ornaments. Some lightness of striking at the center as always. "Usually seen VF," writes Walter Breen, a reflection of the rarity of the present coin in the grade here offered.

Under magnification the obverse logotype is too large for the space allotted on the die, with the result that the digits are squeezed between the neck and the dentils. Same Large Date logotype as used on the earlier-described Philadelphia Mint variety. It is seen that the first two digits are notably repunched, the last two less so. Further, the die is clashed during their use, evidences of letters from the reverse, including the letter A, can be seen (interestingly, when the clash mark occurred, the dies were in a different alignment than on the present coin). No doubt the specialist can spend some enjoyable time studying and contemplating this coin closely.

On the reverse the mintmark C shows doubling to the left. A break extends from the eagle’s wingtip at upper left, through a dentil and the flat border, curiously similar in position to that described earlier on the 1841-C, but entering the dentil at a different point and not from the same die. This particular position must have been a stress point in the quarter eagle design, the type of situation that press operators and die inspectors monitor (but in the present instance no design alteration was made).

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 21, 1968.

Splendid 1843-D Quarter Eagle

The Eliasberg Specimen

Small Date

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349     1843-D Small Date, Large D Mintmark. AU-58 (PCGS). From our sale of the Eliasberg Collection, 1982, there described as "a beautiful AU example."

Small Date type, as always seen on Dahlonega Mint issues. Obverse with a barely visible die crack from the bust tip to the rightmost ray of star 1. Reverse with deeply impressed D mintmark, positioned differently from the preceding.

The Philadelphia Mint shipped two obverses and five reverses to Dahlonega in December 1842 and January 1843, seemingly indicating that the supply of stock reverses (which, of course, bear no dates) had become depleted. The production proved to be quite generous by Dahlonega Mint standards, and several die varieties were made, including variations in mintmark size, large and small.

With the 1843-D we encounter the first Liberty Head Dahlonega quarter eagle that can reasonably be called readily available on the present market, although a comparison of mintage figures will show that it is far more elusive than its Philadelphia or New Orleans counterparts. We would estimate that somewhere between 500 and 1,000 specimens survive of the 1843-D quarter eagle, including a few in higher grades. However, it is appropriate to note that Douglas Winter’s estimate of population is considerably lower, suggesting 220 to 250. In contemplating this discrepancy, the Bowers and Merena estimates are probably more generous as we feel that over the years the majority of pieces of this issue have not changed hands in the auction venue. Without specifically referring to the Winter numbers, but as a comment in general, we are often somewhat conservative on matters of rarity. The discussion is perhaps moot, for no one will ever know for sure how many exist.

From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 127. Previously from B. Max Mehl’s sale of the G.F.E. Wilharm Collection, February 1921.

High-Grade 1843-D $2.50

Small Date

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350     1843-D Small Date. Small D Mintmark. AU-53 (PCGS). Pleasing light yellow gold. Quite well struck, better than typically seen for Dahlonega coins of this era—although some trivial weakness can be seen on the eagle’s leg to the left.

Two obverse dies and five reverse dies were shipped from the Philadelphia Mint beginning on December 22, 1842, anticipating the following year’s coinage. Mintage was intermittent from the spring through the early autumn.

The date logotype is small and thus comfortably fits in the allotted space between the neck and dentils. On the reverse a barely visible crack seems to be beginning at the upper right of the first S (STATES). A raised die line extends from a dentil downward to the right through TA.

Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, June 17, 1968.

Key 1843-D Quarter Eagle

Small Date

351     1843-D Small Date. Small D Mintmark. AU-50. Bright yellow gold. Much mint lustre still remains. A very attractive example of this somewhat elusive issue.

Logotype deeply punched into die and well centered.

Reverse with D mintmark overlapping tip of feather, but with only the barest evidence of the feather within the interior of the D. Large and heavy crack from border through first S (STATES) to wing, quite possibly the same break that is continued from the eagle’s claws on the right, through the tip of the stem, to the right side of D, to the border, just past the denomination.

From Abe Kosoff’s C.S.N.A. sale, October 1968, Lot 739.

352     1843-D Small Date. Small D Mintmark. EF-45. Light yellow gold. Another specimen of this interesting and somewhat scarce issue.

Date logotype positioned as preceding. Some die file marks at right border at stars 11-12. Reverse with a different die, mintmark high, with part of feather seen at upper left interior of D.

Purchased from Stan Kesselman, February 1, 1972.

Marvelous Prooflike 1843-O $2.50

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353     1843-O Small date, Crosslet 4. MS-64 (PCGS). Obverse and reverse surfaces nearly completely prooflike, imparting a special quality to the piece. Indeed, this is one of the finest branch mint quarter eagles we have ever seen of any date and issue in the series. The specialist will recognize this to be perhaps the most elegant, most beautiful surviving 1843-O quarter eagle. The connoisseur with an interest in early pieces, but not especially quarter eagles, will also wish to consider this as a rare prize. Truly, it is a piece for all time.

PCGS Population: 3; none finer.

Obverse with Small Date logotype fitting comfortably between the neck and the dentils, and about centered. A tiny crack links the bottom of the date digits. On the right, a series of delicate, discreet cracks commences at star 5 and continues through star 13. These were probably caused by improper die annealing, rather than breakage from use, a technical point. The stars on the obverse are "tiny," this being described by Breen as his No. 6172, with the explanation: "Stars thin, attenuated; either the hub was weakly impressed or the obverse die was reground." The seeming question can be answered easily: the obverse die was relapped (reground) and in the process given a prooflike finish, and reducing the relief of the stars. Properly, this is a die state, not a die variety.

The reverse is also prooflike, as noted, but less so than the obverse. The mintmark is deeply punched. Some diagonal die striae are seen, oriented at an angle slightly to the left of the vertical. In contrast to the obverse die, it seems that this represents a very early use of the reverse die, with the prooflike surface not from relapping or regrinding, but as made at the Philadelphia Mint. The die state is virtually perfect (not even the slightest trace of a crack).

From Stack’s sale of the Winter Collection, January 1974, Lot 505.

354     1843-O Small date, Crosslet 4. MS-60. A highly lustrous example of the die variety typically seen for this year and mint. A very pleasing coin, far above the usual grade level.

Date logotype well centered. Crack connects bases of numerals. Crack connects star 7 with border; another crack connects star 8 with border; another crack is seen at star 9; a further crack connects stars 10-11 and continues to border, possibly connecting with a crack seen at stars 12 and 13. All of these cracks are very tiny in appearance and would not be noticeable on a well worn specimen. Thus, again a die progression study will probably never take place.

On the reverse the O mintmark is deeply impressed into the die. It overlaps the feather, with a portion of the feather being seen on the right side of the interior. Some minor clash marks are seen at the eagle.

Purchased from Ed Shapiro, January 17, 1968.

355     1843-O Small date, Crosslet 4. MS-60. Another specimen of this popular variety. Some planchet adjustment marks are hidden in the hair. Bright yellow gold.

Purchased from N.K.S., July 23, 1971.

356     1843-O Small date, Crosslet 4. MS-60. Lustrous and frosty. Another specimen of this early New Orleans issue.

Date logotype high, nearly twice as close to the neck truncation as to the dentils. Reverse with O mintmark partly overlapping feather, with traces of feather seen at the right side of the interior. Massive die cracks on the reverse extend from the eagle’s wing through AMERICA to the denomination, to the border to the left of number 2. Another crack links letters of UNITED. At the lower right of the D in the denomination several pieces seem to have fallen out of the die, certainly an unusual situation.

Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, April 11, 1972.

Final 1843-O Small Date $2.50

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357     1843-O Small date, Crosslet 4. AU-55. Pleasing and with much lustre remaining. A final example of the 1843-O Small Date. Typically, even a high-grade specialized collection of quarter eagles is not apt to have an 1843-O in better than VF or EF grade. This present lot concludes a breathtaking offering of several Mint State coins plus the present AU! If you have ever considered collecting quarter eagles, the chances offered in the present catalogue are not likely to be repeated in your lifetime, if ever.

Date logotype high and nearly twice as close to the neck truncation as to the dentils. Reverse with O mintmark overlapping feather, and part of feather visible at the right side of the interior. Early die state, no lapping, no cracks.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of April 1970, Lot 660.

Memorable 1843-O Quarter Eagle

Large Date

Condition Census

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358     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. MS-62 (PCGS). Brilliant and highly lustrous. An outstanding example of the scarcer of the two date varieties employed at New Orleans this year. In fact, by far the scarcer. One of the nicest we have ever seen. Another major opportunity for the specialist.

PCGS Population: 1; none finer.

Date logotype (from same four-digit logotype described earlier under the Philadelphia Mint Large Date issue) very deeply punched into the die, resulting in the first digit, the 1, being large and "bulky," giving the very distinctive appearance. The date is far to left and low, touching the dentils, and almost extending to the bust point. One might speculate that an amateur was at work preparing date logotypes and punching dies in the Engraving Department of the Philadelphia Mint this year. Die anomalies have been popularly ascribed (especially by Walter Breen) to James B. Longacre, who came to the Mint in 1844, and who was considered to be incompetent by Breen. However, the curious Large Date logotype of 1843 reflects work about as incompetent as could be found. At the time, Christian Gobrecht was chief engraver, but the work of die preparation was left to others. The identity of the person or persons responsible for the 1843 Small Date may never be known.

Reverse with heavy O mintmark high and into the arrow feather, with the barest trace of the arrow feather visible within the inner area. Mintmark lightly repunched at its base.

From Jimmy Hayes to the Goliad Corporation, to Harry Bass, October 30, 1972.

High-Grade 1843-O Quarter Eagle

Large Date

359     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. AU-55 (PCGS). Well struck and very attractive. An excellent example of the date, mint, and grade. An attractive example in light yellow gold.

PCGS Population: 4; 4 finer (MS-62 finest).

On the Large Date variety, the first digit is much farther to the left than typical seen, and is fairly close to the bust point. The bust tip above is slightly flattened in order to accommodate the digit, otherwise it might touch or overlap. The 1 is more bold and more deeply impressed than the other figures.

On the reverse, the mintmark O is slightly doubled at the bottom, the doubling being in the form of a small raised arc. The present specimen displays a large cud break on the rim, outside of the dentils, beginning above the F (OF) and continuing to the right above the tip of the eagle’s wing.

With some raised die roughness to the right of the D after the fraction.

Another Choice 1843-O $2.50

Large Date

360     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. AU-55 (PCGS). Frosty orange-gold with considerable mint brilliance in the recessed areas.

Reverse with slightly doubled O mintmark. No cud visible on rim.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 1849.

Lustrous 1843-O $2.50

Large Date

361     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. AU-55 (PCGS). Another lustrous example of this popular issue, this with olive highlights on the somewhat reflective fields.

Reverse with slightly doubled mintmark as earlier described. Also with subliminal traces of the rim cud earlier described. Now with a crack extending from near the left part of the lowest arrowhead, past the final A (AMERICA) to a dentil.

From Paramount’s sale of November 1971, Lot 993.

362     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. AU-53 (PCGS). Attractive light yellow gold, this being par for the course among the hand-selected Bass Collection quarter eagles.

Reverse with mintmark with slight doubling at the bottom, as described earlier. Cud at upper right reverse rim, also as described earlier. With some raised die roughness to the right of the D after the fraction.

From Stack’s sale of the Rosen Collection, September 1968, Lot 316.

363     1843-O Large date, Plain 4. EF-45. Light yellow gold. Much lustre remains. With exceptionally flat, wide rim on obverse and reverse. (The rim characteristics of the MS-62 1843-O Large Date offered cannot be easily studied as it is encapsulated, but the rims seem to be wide as well.)

The 1843-O Large Date does not come on the market very often. As such, the present piece represents an ideal opportunity to acquire this rarity at the EF-45 grade level.

Die pair as preceding.

From Abe Kosoff’s C.S.N.A. Sale, October 1968, Lot 741.

High-Grade 1844 Quarter Eagle

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364     1844 AU-55 (PCGS). Light yellow gold. Well struck and very attractive. Elusive in any and all higher grades, with Walter Breen’s comment being as relevant as any: "Usually in low grades, prohibitively rare AU." Moreover, the mintage for this year is remarkably low for the era, just 6,784 pieces. A prize coin by any accounting.

PCGS Population: 4; 1 finer (MS-60).

Only one die pair has been recognized for this issue. The date logotype is large, and somewhat distorted, with the tops of the digits being smaller and more delicate than the bases, with the final four in particular being bottom heavy. To accommodate the logotype, the dentils were modified, with the curious result that they are indented under the first and last digits. The die also shows some unusual finish lines between the first digit and first star, extending clockwise to past star 2. On the reverse the left-most raised line in the two-part stripes, and also the right-most line extend upward through the horizontal shield stripes.

From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 777.

Mint State 1844-C $2.50

Possibly Finest Known

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365     1844-C MS-62 (PCGS). Warm yellow gold surfaces. Fairly lustrous, intermingled with original die striae (indicating that this is an early striking from the die pair). A high quality seldom seen among quarter eagles of this date and mint. High Condition Census, possibly the finest known.

In his work on the subject, Douglas Winter lists just one known Mint State specimen, noting that it is the piece that was in our Fairfield Collection, Lot 1497, high AU, but "other viewers felt it is a full MS-60." Thus, it would seem that the Fairfield coin is not a close contender to the present Bass coin and, therefore, the Bass coin has a clear possibility of being the finest survivor.

The Charlotte specialist will wish to consider this opportunity carefully and bid strongly. A related opportunity may not recur.

PCGS Population: 3; none finer.

To reiterate an earlier-stated philosophy, population numbers should be taken with a large dose of salt as such numbers may not actually represent different specimens.

Date logotype very deeply punched into the die, and too far left. The top of the 1 touches the base of the neck truncation, while the lower left serif of the 1 touches a dentil. Prominent die striae are seen in the fields, indicating that this is a very early striking from the die.

On the reverse the mintmark is large and high, embedded in the arrow feather, with a small part of the feather visible within the upper curve. Die striae are prominent and again indicate that this is an early impression. However, upon very close examination there are two lightly parallel clash marks at the upper right hand corner of the shield, indicating the die clashed at least twice, although lightly, before this piece was struck.

Apparently an extensive mintage was contemplated, as in December 1843 three obverse and five reverse dies were sent from Philadelphia. However, it seems that but a single pair was used. The mintmark on the reverse is large, this being the norm for this year and through the end of the series.

On July 27, 1844, the Charlotte Mint was burgled, and the miscreant responsible for the act also set the mint afire, preventing coinage in 1845 and in a small way creating his own footnote to numismatic history.

The Charlotte Mint was subsequently rebuilt, and at a later time was moved. Today in 1999 the facility, located in a city park, houses the Mint Museum, which emphasizes art.

From Stack’s Metropolitan Sale, May 1968, Lot 696.

Attractive 1844-D Quarter Eagle

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366     1844-D MS-62 (PCGS). Slightly weakly struck at the center, as always. A splendid coin of truly remarkable quality, exhibiting prooflike characteristics on obverse and reverse. One of the nicest in existence at this grade level, a find for the connoisseur.

PCGS Population: 6; 1 finer (MS-63).

On the obverse the date logotype is too far to the left, causing the first digit to touch the bust. Although the logotype seems to be the same as used on the 1844 Philadelphia issue, in the present instance it was more evenly impressed into the working die; thus, the numerals are not bottom heavy.

On the reverse the mintmark overlaps an arrow feather, as usual, and is tilted to the left.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 1, 1972.

Splendid 1844-D Quarter Eagle

Mint State

Condition Census

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367     1844-D MS-61 (PCGS). Bright yellow gold, very lustrous and frosty. Superbly struck, including minute details on the eagle’s feathers–very notable in this respect, especially as Douglas Winter writes, "Most are very weakly struck at the center of the obverse… The reverse is often weakly struck in the lower part of the eagle’s neck, the shield, and the right leg and the claws;" however, the same writer notes that perhaps 15% to 20% of the known coins are well struck.

Not quite as important (this being our opinion) is the grade–which, of course, at the Mint State level is fantastic. Bring the high numerical grade and the sharpness of striking together and the coin is of incredible importance. We note for the record that our offering of the Columbia Collection last year, one of the very finest assemblies of Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint coins ever put together, checked in with a specimen at the AU-53 level. Douglas Winter estimates that eight to nine Mint State specimens exist. As noted, he suggests that 15% to 20% of all pieces are sharply struck. Taking the higher percentage, 20%, and applying it to the higher range of his estimate, one comes up with 1.8 coins, or, realistically, two coins that statistically might be both sharply struck and in Mint State.

PCGS Population: 4; 7 finer (MS-63 finest).

Once again the population reports–which may represent duplicate offerings of the same pieces–indicates a higher number of Mint State survivors than has been identified by specialists in the gold series.

Date logotype far to the left, but not quite so far as on the 1844-C earlier described. Left side of top of 1 touches neck truncation. Lower left of 1 is barely clear of dentil. Clash marks are seen before and after Miss Liberty’s neck.

On the reverse the D mintmark is large and high and overlaps the arrow feather. Much of the top half of the interior of the mintmark is occupied by part of the feather, in a V shape more or less. Extensive and very deep clash marks are seen at the upper right of the shield, about as deep as we can ever recall seeing on a quarter eagle die. Other clash marks are seen around the motif. Apparently the dies really slammed together! A highly interesting coin from a technical viewpoint, just the sort of piece that Harry Bass enjoyed owning.

Purchased from Joseph Flynn, February 28, 1973, apparently earlier from Superior.

Another Nice 1844-D $2.50

Beautiful AU-50

368     1844-D AU-50. Bright yellow gold. A very attractive example of this scarce issue, an ideal specimen at this grade level.

Obverse die with date as preceding, high and with left side of 1 touching the neck truncation. No clash marks evident.

Reverse with D overlapping the feather and with a tiny amount of the feather showing in the space; left side of D touches 1 of numerator. Extremely heavy clash marks at upper right of shield, but from a different die than earlier described. The die contact must have been intense.

Purchased from Ed Shapiro, January 17, 1968.

Beautiful Mint State 1845 $2.50

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369     1845 MS-64 (PCGS). Lustrous and frosty. A splendid example of this popular early date, one of the relatively few quarter eagles of the era for which a Mint State coin is not an extreme rarity.

PCGS Population: 1; none finer.

On the obverse the date logotype is too high and touches the tip of the bust. The same logotype was rather carelessly made, with the base of the 45 lower than that of 18, and with the 5 leaning right.

The reverse is bisected by a break beginning at the border, going through a dentil and brushing the left side of the 2 in the fraction, extending upward through the eagle, out through the eagle’s neck behind the eye, and barely to the left of O (OF) to a dentil.

From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1498, purchased at the sale by Michael G. Brownlee, and subsequently traded to Harry Bass.

Attractive Mint State 1845 $2.50

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370     1845 MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with much brilliance in the recessed areas. A second pleasing choice Mint State example of the date.

PCGS Population: 5; 1 finer (MS-64).

Date position and logotype as preceding. A tiny crack is seen connecting stars 3-5.

The reverse die has raised finish marks extending at about a 45° angle oriented to the left of vertical, the approximate orientation seen on the striae of most other dies of the era. Additionally, many of the vertical lines in the reverse shield extend well above their normal terminus, several of them extending completely across the horizontal lines above to the top border of the shield. Several lines also extend below the shield, terminating in the eagle’s feathers.

Purchased from Julian Leidman, August 12, 1969.

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