Quarter Eagles - Lots 193-262
Choice Uncirculated 1856 $2.50
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The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part IV
Quarter Eagles - Lots 193-262
Choice Uncirculated 1856 $2.50
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193 1856 MS-64. Intense cartwheel lustre present on satiny rose-gold surfaces. An outstanding representative example of the grade and type.
Obverse with small date numerals, as always seen, although a Large Date variety was reported years ago and never confirmed (it may not have been reported correctly in the first place). The digit 5 is italic as on all. Perfect obverse and reverse dies (no cracks).
From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1549.
194 Quartette of Mint State quarter eagles: I 1856 MS-62. Lustrous I 1861 MS-62. Brilliant and lustrous I 1878 MS-62. Lustrous with a few minor copper spots on both the obverse and reverse I 1895 Net MS-63; sharpness of MS-65, lightly cleaned. (Total: 4 pieces)
Delightful 1856-S Quarter Eagle
Mint State-63
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195 1856-S MS-63 (PCGS). A high degree of bright lustre graces deep orange-gold surfaces. Splashes of deep violet iridescence add to the overall appeal. Fairly well struck. An extraordinary example of an issue which when seen is usually in much lower grade. Most examples of the date show extensive wear, and today the typical grade on the market is apt to be just VF to EF. The 1856-S quarter eagle, with a mintage of 71,120 pieces, is the earliest collectible San Francisco Mint coin of this denomination, the 1854-S being for all practical purposes unobtainable. A delightful coin with strong aesthetic appeal, and easily among the finest known examples of the date as well.
PCGS Population: 2; 5 finer (MS-65 finest).
Date logotype small and nicely impressed, somewhat to left, 1 equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over right side of dentil. S mintmark high, outer upper curve of S touches arrow feather above, lower serif nearly touches tip of fraction bar.
From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1555.
Mint State 1857-O $2.50
Rare So Fine
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196 1857-O MS-62. Lustrous yellow gold with somewhat reflective fields and lightly frosted motifs. The final date in the denomination struck in New Orleans. From a modest mintage for the date of 34,000 coins, with the majority of specimens from that mintage that are available to today’s collectors being just VF or so. This specimen equals the quality of Lot 491 in our Bass Collection Part II (October 1999) sale, and is important as such.
Obverse with date evenly centered horizontally and vertically. Tiny notch out of lower right side of 8, as on all dies from all mints in the denomination this year. Reverse with O mintmark high and to right, with lowest arrow feather covering the upper right curve of the O, and evenly centered between the tip of the fraction bar and the upper left serif of the D in the denomination. Faint die crack from dentil to bottom of D in denomination.
From Stack’s sale of May 1968, Lot 739.
197 1857-O AU-50. Medium yellow gold with decent lustre in the protected areas. A pleasing example of the date and grade.
From the same obverse and reverse dies as the preceding lot, but here the reverse crack now extends through the D of the denomination to the olive branch above.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
198 1857-S AU-55. Lustrous honey gold with rich rose iridescence at the rims. A lovely example of a popular and scarce San Francisco quarter eagle issue. Walter Breen called this date "Extremely rare above EF," and we tend to agree. Nicely struck and aesthetically appealing.
Obverse with date nicely centered both horizontally and vertically. Reverse with thin S mintmark high in the die, back upper curve of S touching talon, top of upper right serif virtually touching nock of arrow shaft, numerator in fraction below back curve of S and relatively distant. A faint crack connects the bottoms of ES with OF.
From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 827.
199 1858 MS-62. Highly lustrous medium gold with prooflike reflectivity in the fields. A few stray marks are present, most noticeable of those being a shallow planchet depression, as struck, in the field before Liberty’s chin. A rarity in Mint State.
Date logotype nicely impressed, bottom of 1 twice as close to truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil, raised horizontal die line at both sides of flag of 5, left side of line lightly connected to top of first 8. Reverse die fairly unremarkable.
Purchased from Mal Varner, October 20, 1972.
200 1858 AU-53. Lustrous rose-gold. Another pleasing specimen of the date.
Date logotype nicely centered, 1 equidistant, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Reverse unremarkable.
From Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 996.
Superb Proof 1859 $2.50 Rarity
A Splendid Gem
Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS
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201 1859 Proof-66 (PCGS). A splendid golden Proof with deep mirror fields and frosted motifs forming an intense and delightful cameo contrast. An impressive gem of impeccable quality and preservation. This gorgeous specimen has been conserved very carefully over the past 141 years and stands today as one of the most elegant, most beautiful gold coins of any denomination from this decade. It could well be that years will pass before another opportunity occurs at this level.
The present coin is finer than the Proof-62 specimen we sold in Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, October 1999, Lot 503. You may be about to bid on the finest known Proof 1859 quarter eagle; certainly the possibility for such exists in the presently offered specimen. In the 19th century there was little aftermarket for Proof gold. It was not at all unusual for a quarter eagle to sell for very little above face value a decade or two or three after it was issued (this reference being to Proof quarter eagles in general, not specifically to those dated 1859). Accordingly, many pieces were simply spent. Decades later, beginning in a significant way in the 1930s, Proof gold coins of the Coronet style became widely collected, at which time it was found that relatively few were available.
PCGS Population: 2; none finer.
The Proof mintage for this date is unknown, but our estimate is that it was very small. We believe that fewer than a dozen or so Proofs are known today, indicating a tiny mintage.
In 1859, Proof coins were sold individually to numismatists and others who were interested in purchasing them. As might be expected, the greatest demand was for the gold dollar, this being the most widely collected of all gold denominations. Quarter eagles and $3 pieces were next in popularity, followed at a very long distance by $5, $10, and $20 pieces, of which just a handful of each were ordered.
In this year the reverse hub was changed. The hub used on the present piece is that of 1840-1858, with the lowest arrow head very close to the final A (AMERICA), the top two arrow heads touching, etc. The Type II hub was also introduced this year, and has distinguishing differences, including the top two arrow heads separated.
Regarding this Proof 1859, the date logotype is in small figures widely spaced. On this particular specimen it is placed slightly closer to the dentils than the neck truncation above.
For interest, a list of some early offerings and displays of full gold Proof sets of 1859 are given herewith—some no doubt representing the same sets subsequently sold (partial list from our files):
1. May 1864. W. Elliot Woodward’s sale of the John F. McCoy Collection, Lot 1990, part of a four-piece set (gold $1, $2.50, $3, and $5).
2. November 1880. S.K. Harzfeld’s 15th Sale, Lot 593a, part of a six-piece gold Proof set of the date.
3. December 1890. Chapman brother’s sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection, Lot 407, part of a six piece gold Proof set of the date.
4. January 1914. Part of the American Numismatic Society Exhibition display of coins from the Society’s holdings (a full run of Proof gold from 1859 onward was displayed).
Fast forward to modern times (although some individual citations could be given in the meantime), the Eliasberg coin sold by us in 1982, traced its pedigree from the David S. Wilson Collection (S.H. Chapman, March 1907), and remains memorable to this day. Superior’s sale of the Ed Trompeter coin, Lot 39 in their event of February 1992, was noted as "either the Boyd, Bell, Wolfson specimen or one not previously auctioned." Joining the select inner circle is also David Akers’ offering of the John Jay Pittman coin, October 1997, Lot 834, part of an 1859 Proof set, tracing its pedigree to Numismatic Galleries’ sale of the "Memorable Collection," 1948, Lot 118, and earlier to the "World’s Greatest Collection" sale of 1946, Lot 127 (the F.C.C. Boyd cabinet). Another example, Proof-62, was showcased by us in the Bass II sale.
From Stack’s sale of April 1978, Lot 805; our Bass III Sale, here re-offered.
Lustrous Uncirculated 1859 $2.50
Type I or "Old" Reverse
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202 1859 MS-61 (PCGS). Highly lustrous honey gold with lively rose iridescence on both sides. A plentiful issue in lower grades, but a bona fide rarity in Mint State; very few known examples of the date compare to, or exceed, the quality of the present specimen. An opportunity to acquire a high-grade example of an early-date Coronet quarter eagle.
PCGS Population: 1; 4 finer (MS-63 finest).
The hub used on the present piece is that of 1840-1859, called "old" or Type I, with the lowest arrow head very close to the final A (AMERICA), the top two arrow heads touching, etc. The Type II hub was also introduced this year, and has distinguishing differences, including the top two arrow heads separated.
Obverse with date nicely centered both horizontally and vertically. Top of 1 and lower left serif equidistant from the truncation above and the dentils below. Left edge of serif over center of dentil. 1 and 8 evenly spaced, 5 and 9 slightly wider. A perfect date size for the denomination.
Type I reverse (as noted above), arrow heads large and touching, C and final A in AMERICA virtually touching, dentils closely spaced, elongated and with rounded ends.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, June 19, 1968.
Uncirculated 1859-S $2.50 Rarity
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203 1859-S MS-61 (PCGS). Rich honey gold with strong lustre and a touch of pale rose iridescence. An elusive issue, one of 15,200 examples of the date produced. We suspect that perhaps 100 or so examples from that mintage still survive, with the majority of those at the EF level. When David Akers was preparing the manuscript for his 1975 volume on quarter eagles, he made note that in the seven years preceding publication, only one example of the date had been offered at public auction in a grade higher than EF! Among the finest known of this popular branch mint issue, and important as such. A pleasing coin and an exciting opportunity for the attentive quarter eagle specialist.
PCGS Population: 3; 1 finer (MS-64).
Obverse with date logotype low and to left. A tiny thorn from the border past star 11 will hallmark the die for the interested specialist.
Reverse with S mintmark high, extremely deeply punched into the die making it one of the boldest mintmarks seen on a coin of this denomination, upper right serif of S embedded in arrow feathers, upper back curve of S away from talon. The loops of the S mintmark are open and unfilled. The hub is of the early 1840-1859 style.
Elusive 1859-S Quarter Eagle
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204 1859-S AU-53. Generous amounts of mint lustre remain on satiny rose-gold surfaces. The present coin is one of the nicest we have handled over the years—a pleasing specimen overall, an example that will certainly please its next owner.
Obverse date low. Tiny thorn on rim past star 11. Reverse with small mintmark, entirely filled so as to create a blob. Old-style hub.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Impressive 1860 Quarter Eagle Rarity
Among Finest Certified
Type I or "Old" Reverse
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205 1860 Old Reverse. AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous orange-gold with brighter lustre in the protected areas. Struck from the "old" reverse hub (1840-1859), and much rarer than its counterpart with the "new" style reverse. From a modest mintage for the date of 22,675 business strikes, of which evidently only a small proportion were from the Type I hub. Regarding the Type I reverse for this date, Walter Breen’s only comment ( Encyclopedia, 1988:6250) was: "Possibly exists." Choice for the grade. High Condition Census, another prize for the quarter eagle specialist.
PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer (MS-64).
Date nicely centered, 1 slightly nearer to truncation than dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. Reverse fairly unremarkable (aside from the fact that it is from the old Type I reverse).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 1750.
206 1860 New Reverse. MS-61. Satiny honey gold with subdued olive iridescence. An attractive coin for the assigned grade.
Date logotype low, top of 1 perhaps three times the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Reverse fairly unremarkable.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, July 12, 1968.
207 1860-C Net EF-40; sharpness AU-50, but with light scratches in the field behind Miss Liberty, and with reverse rim nicks and scratches below the denomination. Lustrous medium orange-gold. From the final year of Charlotte Mint quarter eagle production.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, August 23, 1968.
208 1860-S Net EF-40; sharpness AU-50, polished. Deep orange toning in the protected areas.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, June 19, 1968.
Rare 1861 Quarter Eagle Type
Type I or "Old" Style Reverse
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209 1861 Old Reverse. AU-55. Warm honey gold with a generous amount of mint lustre in the protected areas. Nicely struck and only lightly circulated. Choice for the assigned grade. A great rarity by virtue of its reverse style. The reverse is of the Type I or old hub, and thus is extremely rare (see comments in Breen’s Encyclopedia under 6256). An outstanding specimen that will be a showpiece in any advanced cabinet of the denomination.
Date nicely centered horizontally and vertically. Both dies show interesting multiple clash marks.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of August 1968, Lot 825.
210 1861 New Reverse. MS-64. A satiny delight. Somewhat reflective fields and frosty motifs display strong lustre and a hint of olive iridescence. Sharply struck. Plentiful in all grades, although at MS-64 the population thins considerably. A beauty within the confines of the assigned grade.
Date logotype high, base of first 1 twice the distance from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Numerous raised die striae run diagonally across the obverse field; the same occurs on the reverse, which is otherwise unremarkable.
From Stack’s sale of the Scanlon Collection, October 1973, Lot 2090.
211 Quintette of quarter eagles: I 1861 MS-60 I 1878 AU-58 I 1878-S AU-58 I 1898 MS-60 I 1907 AU-58. Each displays lustrous and attractive surfaces. (Total: 5 pieces)
212 Grouping of quarter eagles grading AU-58: I 1861 New Reverse I 1873 Closed 3 I 1873 Open 3 I 1877-S I
1878-S I 1879 I 1895. Each displays lustrous
and attractive surfaces. A well matched grouping. (Total: 7 pieces)
213 Half dozen quarter eagles: I 1861-S VF-20 I
1863-S VF-25 I 1865-S
VF-30 I 1867-S VF-35
I 1873-S VF-35 I 1879-S EF-40. An attractive
grouping displaying yellow surfaces with various degrees of rose toning. (Total:
6 pieces)
Outstanding 1862 Quarter Eagle
Choice Mint State
Tied for Finest Certified by PCGS
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214 1862 MS-64 (PCGS). Intense cartwheel lustre graces satiny honey gold surfaces. A whisper of rose adds immensely to the overall appeal. Well struck. A beautiful representative of the date and assigned grade. Equivalent to Lot 530 in Part II of our Bass Collection sales (October 1999), and essentially as fine a specimen of the date as can be obtained; none have been graded finer by PCGS.
Yet another outstanding opportunity—gathered among many such opportunities in the remarkable collection over a period of more than 40 years by Harry W. Bass, Jr. We cannot envision, even in theory, that a comparable collection of gold coins will ever be formed in any era, by anyone.
PCGS Population: 4; none finer.
Quarter eagles of this date were not generally released, as banks stopped paying out all gold coins in late December 1861. It was not until 1878 that gold coins again circulated at par. Today, a number of Mint State 1862 gold dollars and $2.50 pieces are known to exist, probably coins that were recognized as being potentially desirable in view of the cessation of distribution, and which were acquired by paying a small premium.
Date logotype well centered both vertically and horizontally, left edge of lower serif of 1 over space between dentils. A die crack runs from the inner side of the first star to "Adam’s apple" region of Miss Liberty’s throat. Light die clash marks on both sides, otherwise the reverse is fairly unremarkable. Numerous raised die striae are seen on both sides, indicating an early die state.
From Stack’s sale of the Scanlon Collection, October 1973, Lot 2092.
215 1862 AU-58. Lustrous and satiny orange-gold. Nicely struck with just a few light blemishes present. The overall appeal is such that some might call the present piece Mint State.
Date logotype high, bottom of 1 twice as far from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif of 1 over space between dentils. Numerous raised die striae are seen on both sides, indicating an early die state.
From Stack’s sale of May 1971, Lot 1259.
Impressive 1862-S $2.50
Condition Census
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216 1862-S AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous medium gold with rich orange highlights and prooflike reflectivity in the protected areas. Nicely struck. A rare date in AU or finer (on those extremely rare occasions when finer is actually available). From a fairly modest mintage of just 8,000 coins, most of which were immediately introduced into the hustle-bustle commerce of everyday San Francisco life, leaving most survivors from the mintage in the Fine to VF range. At the AU-55 level this coin is exceeded in quality by very few other examples of the date.
PCGS Population: 3; 3 finer (MS-62 finest).
Date logotype nicely impressed, top of 1 minutely closer to truncation than bottom is to dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. Reverse S mintmark thin and stately, nicely formed, upper curve touches arrow feather, serif away from branch, bottom equidistant from fraction bar and D of denomination. Light clash marks present.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, June 25, 1968.
Lovely 1863-S $2.50
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217 1863-S AU-58 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with rich rose and orange-gold highlights. A particularly elusive date in AU or finer; 10,800 examples were struck and sent almost immediately into circulation. The typical grade for this date is apt to be just VF or so, and great patience is necessary for collectors desiring a specimen of the date above that grade. Thankfully, patience has its rewards, as evidenced by the offering of the present coin.
PCGS Population: 5; 2 finer (MS-64 finest).
Date nicely centered below Liberty, 1 in date marginally closer to dentils than to truncation, date numerals progressively wider apart from left to right, 1 and 8 closer than 6 and 3. A die line protrudes from both sides of the sixth star. Reverse with S mintmark tilted sharply right, upper curve nearly touches feather, upper serif nearly touches branch, lower curve nearly touches upper serif of D in denomination, lower serif nearly touches end of fraction bar.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 192.
Extraordinary 1865-S $2.50
Finest Graded by PCGS
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218 1865-S MS-64 (PCGS). Intense lustre on satiny orange-gold surfaces. Splashes of rose and pale blue iridescence add to the overall appeal. An impressive example of this popular branch mint issue, a date that is typically found well worn. This landmark coin is especially important in view of the hundreds of double eagles dated 1865-S that were sold by us last year as part of the S.S. Brother Jonathan treasure recovery—creating a market for coins of this date which, relating to the quarter eagle denomination, simply cannot be filled. No examples of the 1865-S were located in that remarkable find. Today, the present 1865-S is at once the finest known (to our knowledge), incredibly rare (unquestioned), and eminently desirable (ditto). This is certainly one of the outstanding prizes of the present sale. To find what is quite probably the finest known example of the date in the Harry Bass Collection is not surprising to us; that an example of the date exists so fine is what we find surprising! Among the finest opportunities in a sale laden with such opportunities.
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
Date logotype nicely impressed, top of 1 marginally nearer to truncation than bottom is to dentils, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils, slight repunching at bases of 186. From the same reverse as the 1863-S quarter eagle in the preceding lot.
Notes on the 1865-S $2.50
Circulation strike mintage: (23,376) These circulated at par in the West at a time when quarter eagles were not seen in circulation in the East or Midwest.
Estimated population (Mint State): 3 to 5. Exceedingly scarce. When seen, the grade is apt to be closer to MS-60 than to the choice level. Paul F. Taglione (The Quarter Eagles, 1986) stated that in 1979 an MS-60 and an MS-63 "turned up in the Far East."
Estimated population (circulated grades): 75 to 95. The 1865-S quarter eagle is hardly common, but enough exist that an example is usually obtainable with only a moderate amount of searching, not because there are many around—for there are not—but because there are enough to satisfy the needs of those few numismatists forming systematic collections of Liberty Head quarter eagles. Fine and VF seem to be about par for the grades seen, with EF and AU coins being in the distinct minority.
Die data: 1865 four-digit date logotype for the quarter eagle: 18 close, 68 slightly wider, 65 ever so slightly wider yet. 1 very solid, with especially thick serifs to left and right, the right serif being defective in having a point at its upper right. 8 with top and bottom interior spaces about the same size, top perhaps slightly larger, and 8 leaning right. 6 with interior space having nearly straight sides; ball separated from curve below and with top of 6 extending about as far to the right as the right side of the lower curve. 5 is broad and with a prominent flag, somewhat reminiscent of the 5 in the 1859 "Paquet" quarter eagle logotype; ball very close or on some impressions touching the upright above it; lower right of 5 very heavy. 5 leans slightly right. • This logotype was used on all dies of both mints.
Three 1865-dated obverse dies were shipped to San Francisco in November 1864, and at least two of these were used (one showing repunching).
Type I reverse hub. At least two reverse dies were used, one with the S mintmark at an angle.
Characteristics of striking and die notes: Usually lightly struck at the centers, particularly on the higher points of the hair on the obverse and on the left side of the reverse.
Selected earlier circulation strike citation(s): A selection from a much larger file, the citations emphasizing early offerings, listings with die descriptions, and higher grade coins.
• 1883-06: 69th Sale, William J. Jenks Collection (John W. Haseltine), Lot 468: "1865-S Good. Rare." Realized $4.
• 1910-09: 43rd Sale, Peter Mougey Collection (Thomas L. Elder), Lot 1206: "1865 S. Very Good; rare." Realized $3.10.
• 1913-05: Malcolm N. Jackson Collection (U.S. Coin Co., Inc.), Lot 231: "1865-S Very Good, scarce." Realized $3. ••• Another: Lot 232: "1866-S, S over 1 in fraction. Very Fine, scarce." Realized $3.
• 1915-05: B.W. Smith Collection (B. Max Mehl), Lot 324: "1865-S Slanting S over 2 of fraction. Very Good. Very scarce." Realized $4.
• 1931-04: Morris Collection (B. Max Mehl), Lot 601: "1865-S Slanting S over 2 of fraction. Extremely Fine. Rare. Record over $15." Realized $5.25.
• 1934-03: Sale 331, Rare U.S. and Foreign Gold Coins (J.C. Morgenthau & Co.), Lot 361: "1865-S Fine." Realized $7.50.
• 1934-09: Robert J. Bouvier Collection (Thomas L. Elder), Lot 1745: "1865-S Very Fine. Rare. A small coinage." Realized $14.
• 1944-02: Belden E. Roach Collection (B. Max Mehl), Lot 1006: "1865-S Extremely Fine with brilliant luster." Realized $11.25.
• 1944-12: J.F. Bell Collection (Stack’s), Lot 248: "1865-S Brilliant Uncirculated." Realized $17.50.
• 1946:01: "World’s Greatest Collection" (F.C.C. Boyd Collection; Numismatic Gallery, Lot 250: "1865-S None minted in 1864. Very Fine." Realized $18. ••• Later offering: 1951-10: B.A. Talmadge Collection (Numismatic Gallery), Lot 1253: "1865-S None minted in 1864. Very Fine. W.G.C." Realized $9.
• 1947-11 Mason Williams Collection (Stack’s), Lot 888: "1865-S Very Fine." Realized $12.50.
• 1956-11: 48th Sale, [Thomas L. Gaskill Collection] (New Netherlands Coin Co., Inc.), Lot 309: "1865-S. Apparently from the badly worn reverse die of 1863. Very Fine plus; lightly impaired about the obverse rim. Some mint lustre; acceptable. Marked $23." Realized $18.
From Stack’s sale of May 1972, Lot 1654.
219 1866 VF-35. Deep honey gold with orange brightness in the recessed areas. A few scattered marks are seen, none of them a particular distraction unto itself. A rarity in most grades; just 3,780 business strikes of the date were produced. Definitely choice VF overall. Struck from a rotated reverse die, die alignment about 260°.
Date logotype evenly impressed and nicely centered both horizontally and vertically.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 196.
220 1866-S Blundered Mintmark. AU-58 (PCGS). Lustrous orange-gold. A popular branch mint issue whose rarity increases dramatically above EF; the present AU-58 specimen is among the finest known examples of the date.
PCGS Population: 4; 1 finer (MS-61).
Obverse with nicely centered date, 1 about equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower left serif over right edge of a dentil. Reverse with S mintmark high, upper right of S nearly touches talon, upper serif touches nock of shaft and feather, bottom point of lower serif points to center of upright of the fraction numerator.
From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1584.
221 1866-S EF-40. Deep yellow gold with olive overtones. Scarce at EF. No major marks noted.
From the same obverse die as the preceding lot. Reverse with S mintmark high and slightly right, upper serif embedded in lower arrow feather, upper curve away from talon, bottom equidistant from right side of 1 in fraction and tip of fraction bar, moderately close to both.
From Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 214.
222 1866-S Blundered Mintmark. EF-40. Pale violet iridescence on honey gold surfaces. Tiny marks and scattered edge nicks noted.
Lustrous 1867-S $2.50
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223 1867-S AU-58 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with deeper orange-gold at the rims. A satiny specimen of a popular branch mint issue, one that Walter Breen called "Extremely rare above EF." From a modest mintage of 28,000 pieces, most of which were placed immediately into circulation. The present coin is a delight to behold; Harry Bass located just one finer specimen in his years of dedicated collecting (Lot 555, May 2000). A nice addition to any collection.
Date logotype high, bottom of 1 four times farther from dentils as top is from truncation, right top of 7 close as well, left edge of lower serif over right edge of dentil. Clash marks present on reverse. Reverse die virtually identical to that described at Lot 216 above (reverse of 1862-S quarter eagle).
From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1587.
224 1868 EF-45. Lustrous honey gold with rose highlights and reflective fields. A rare low-mintage date, one of just 3,600 examples struck for intended circulation. A prize in all grades, particularly in AU or finer. Very few examples of the date exist in any grade; this choice AU coin is a condition rarity.
Regarding quarter eagles of the date, Walter Breen notes that all circulation strikes were delivered on January 20, 1868, early in the year. Apparently there was no subsequent call for such pieces. All authentic pieces have raised rust marks on the neck (as Breen observes). Production was from a single pair of dies. The date logotype is deeply punched in the die, positioned left, and very close to but not touching the truncation.
From RARCOA’s sale of February 1972, Lot 789.
225 1868-S EF-40. Lustrous yellow gold. A few stray marks and light scratches noted.
Date logotype nicely impressed and well centered. On the reverse, the S mintmark nearly touches the arrow feather above and the fraction bar below.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 1868.
226 1869 AU-58. Delightful honey gold with orange-gold highlights and intense lustre. Cameo contrast present; the motifs are mildly frosty, and the fields are quite reflective. Another popular low-mintage Philadelphia Mint issue; in this case, just 4,320 circulation strikes were produced. This is the finest of three business strikes of the date that Harry Bass added to his collection over the years (see our catalogue of October 1999, Lots 563 and 564; AU-55 PL, and AU-50 PL, respectively), and an important treasure as such. The true rarity and potential of many dates from this era go unrecognized today, the present date being one of those issues. A true "sleeper" that is rare and underrated in practically all grades.
Date very high, about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils, this being true of all business strikes of the date—which, seemingly, were made from a single die pair. (In contrast, Proofs of the date have the logotype positioned low on the die.)
Reverse with some interesting die finish lines among the letters from D (UNITED) clockwise through STATE and again past the F and in other peripheral areas. Clash marks around eagle.
From Stack’s sale of the Scanlon Collection, October 1973, Lot 2100.
227 1869-S AU-55. Bright and lustrous honey gold. A touch of reverse weakness is present, as virtually always seen for the date. Devoid of all but some tiny marks. Scarce so fine.
Date logotype deeply impressed into die. Date very high with flag and top of 1 fairly close to but not quite touching neck truncation, left edge of lowest serif over right edge of dentil below. On Liberty’s coronet, a raised diagonal line connects the right side of the top serif of L in LIBERTY to the lower right foot of that letter; from the master die used to make the working dies (and also seen on Proof quarter eagles of the date). Reverse with S mintmark barely touching arrow feather, bottom of mintmark close to tip of fraction bar and D of the denomination. Clash marks show on both sides.
From Harmer, Rooke’s sale of November 1969, Lot 437.
228 1869-S EF-45. Medium rose-gold with some lustre in the protected areas.
From the same dies as the preceding lot.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, January 17, 1968.
Quintette of $2.50 Gold
229 Quintette of quarter eagles: I 1870-S EF-45. Lustrous with just a touch of rose I 1871-S AU-53. Lustrous with splashes of pale lavender I 1872-S EF-40. Yellow surfaces with some mint lustre remaining I 1873-S EF-40. Reddish at the devices I 1875-S EF-45. Lustrous with rose highlights. (Total: 5 pieces)
230 1871 AU-55. Satiny, frosty surfaces glow with rich orange and rose
iridescence and deep cartwheel lustre. A prized issue from Philadelphia, one of only
5,300 business strikes of the date produced. The present specimen is the equivalent
of just two other business strikes of the date located by Harry Bass over the years
(both offered in Part II, October 1999). Sharply struck and undeniably pleasing for
the grade.
Date logotype about centered. Right serif of final 1 is unusually long and bold, and deeply impressed into die. Tiny raised die lumps on Liberty’s shoulder and lower neck. Faint traces of die clash visible on an otherwise unremarkable reverse.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, November 1, 1968.
Choice Mint State 1872 $2.50 Rarity
Among Finest Known
Condition Census Quality
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231 1872 MS-63 (PCGS). Rich rose and orange iridescence on satiny motifs and reflective fields. Yet another rarity from the mother mint in Philadelphia, one of just 3,000 circulation strikes of the date produced. One of only two examples of the date certified in Mint State by PCGS (the other piece being slightly finer at MS-64), and undoubtedly Condition Census for the date as such. Incidentally, the other Mint State example that PCGS has certified was Lot 576 in Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (October 1999)! A truly outstanding opportunity for the quarter eagle connoisseur.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-64).
In the date logotype, the 2 is slightly low and to the left. Very deeply impressed into the die—one of the deepest impressions we have seen on any die of this denomination. Under examination some light die finish lines can be seen connecting stars 4-5 and, separately, 5-6, and elsewhere, evidence that this was an early striking.
Reverse with die finish lines, indicating its early use. Circulation strikes, delivered on January 22, 1872, were made to the extent of only 3,000 pieces. At the time there was little practical call for such coins. The Treasury was not paying pieces out at par; in order to obtain them one had to pay a sharp premium in terms of paper money. When this was done, usually reserves of the higher denominations were tapped, for use in the export trade. Quarter eagles were virtually ignored. It might have been the case—no records survive—that such pieces were made, (along with gold dollars) in modest quantities, to have souvenirs available for those who cared to purchase them directly from the Mint at a premium to use as gifts.
Purchased from Joe Flynn, September 2, 1971.
232 1872-S AU-55. Strong lustre on medium golden surfaces. Moderately scarce in all grades, especially so above EF.
Obverse with date deeply impressed into die, slightly high. The final digit 2 is low on the logotype this year (this being true on all dies, as only one logotype was used for the various dies and mints for this denomination). Reverse with small S mintmark overlapping end of arrow. Some die finish lines indicate that this was an early striking.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 209.
Stunning Gem Mint State 1873 $2.50
Close 3
Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS
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233 1873 Close 3. MS-66 (PCGS). A silky smooth delight. Rich honey gold surfaces show strong cartwheel lustre and a trace of rose toning. Nicely struck and aesthetically appealing in all respects. While the 1873 Close 3 is available enough in lower Mint State grades, at the superb gem level it is an incredible rarity. A truly memorable Liberty quarter eagle.
PCGS Population: 2; none finer.
Date logotype moderately impressed, date nicely centered, 1 virtually equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over left edge of dentil, die clash marks around Liberty’s head. Reverse with some faint, spidery die cracks that connect the tops of OF AMERICA and the bottoms of the numerals and the D in the denomination.
From Paramount’s sale of July 1985, Lot 1421.
234 1874 AU-58 (PCGS). Deep honey gold with strong lustre, somewhat prooflike fields, and satiny motifs. Undeniably choice for the assigned grade; some may even call the present coin Mint State. From a small mintage for the date of 3,920 business strikes. The present piece is one of just two circulation strikes of the date that Harry Bass found suitable for inclusion in his collection despite decades of searching. A truly rare opportunity for our bidders, one that should not be passed over lightly.
Date logotype slightly low and deeply punched into die. Some evidence of rust pits at earlobe, as is true of all authentic business strikes (cf. Breen Encyclopedia No. 6287).
As noted in Part II of our sale of the Harry Bass Collection (October 1999), the survival of a circulation strike example of this date in this grade is a matter of remote chance, as such pieces were not deliberately saved by numismatists. Those few collectors who were assembling quarter eagles by date sequence were apt to order Proofs.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
235 1874 AU-53. Lustrous honey gold. A second attractive specimen of a popular Philadelphia Mint rarity.
From the same dies as the preceding lot.
Purchased from John Smies, June 10, 1967.
236 1875-S AU-50. Lustrous orange-gold with much brightness in the recessed areas. A scarce and popular date, one that is more apt to be seen in VF or EF than AU.
Date logotype shallowly impressed into the die, high and to the left. Reverse with upper right of S mintmark embedded in arrow feather.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of October 1968, Lot 789.
237 1876 AU-50. Lustrous medium gold.
Date logotype deeply impressed into the die, so much that the surrounding field has been slightly distorted (very interesting to view under magnification). Date fairly well centered. Miss Liberty has a raised area or "bar" on her jaw, diagnostic for authentic business strikes. Interestingly, the same bar appears on San Francisco issues of the date, indicating that it was on the master die, not the working die.
From Stack’s sale of May 1972, Lot 1674.
238 1876-S AU-55. Strong lustre and orange iridescence on satiny surfaces. A pleasing example of the date.
Date logotype high and impressed into the die at medium depth. Bar on the neck, as is true of all authentic quarter eagles of the date, regardless of mint. On the reverse, the S mintmark is high and into the motif.
This represents the last use at the San Francisco Mint of the old-style or "Type I" reverse. Henceforth, Type II reverses were used at that mint until 1879, after which San Francisco production was discontinued.
From our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1619.
Uncirculated 1877 Quarter Eagle
A Low-Mintage Rarity
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239 1877 MS-60. Lustrous pale orange-gold with rose highlights. Finer overall than the assigned grade typically signifies. Sharply struck. A prized rarity from the Philadelphia Mint, one of just 1,632 business strikes of the date produced. Of that small figure, very few surviving specimens are finer than EF. Mint State coins are rarities of some importance, and bidding activity on the present lot should be nothing short of impressive.
Date well centered vertically (with regard to the first digit), but far to right, with the second 7 being quite close to the neck tip. A tiny die line is seen from the eagle’s right wing tip, extending into the field in that area.
Purchased from Don Dethlefsen, August 15, 1972.
240 1879 MS-63. Intense cartwheel lustre on satiny surfaces. Sharply struck. Choice for the grade.
Date logotype firmly impressed and nicely centered horizontally and vertically.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 106.
Mint State 1879-S $2.50
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241 1879-S MS-62 (PCGS). Fully prooflike, with rich rose iridescence on frosty motifs and mirrored fields. A memorable striking of the last San Francisco (and branch mint) quarter eagle in the Liberty Head series, the end of a long string of illustrious coins. Although the 1879-S is not a great rarity in circulated grades, and Mint State pieces come on the market from time to time, very few hold claim to the quality of the present coin. In fact, it is among the finest examples of the date certified by PCGS. Another grand opportunity for the connoisseur of fine numismatic items.
PCGS Population: 3; 3 finer (MS-64 finest).
Bottom of 1 in date marginally closer to dentils than top is to truncation, left edge of lower serif over right edge of dentil. S mintmark small and broad but well-formed, top of S connected to point of arrow feather above, S equidistant between 1 in fraction and fraction bar, 1 and fraction bar both extend above the horizontal plane of the bottom of the mintmark.
Purchased from Fred Sweeney, September 18, 1972.
Choice Uncirculated 1880 $2.50
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242 1880 MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous orange-gold with olive highlights. The devices are lightly frosted, and the fields are somewhat reflective with bursts of rose iridescence. Nicely struck. Another elusive Philadelphia Mint quarter eagle, this with a business strike mintage of just 2,960 pieces. Rare so fine.
Date logotype nicely impressed and nicely centered.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation. Earlier from our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1629.
243 1880 MS-62. Lustrous honey gold with olive highlights. Another pleasing Mint State example of a popular low-mintage date.
Dies as in the preceding lot.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1967, Lot 411.
Important 1881 $2.50 Rarity
Just 640 Struck
Condition Census
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244 1881 MS-62 (PCGS). An impressive honey gold specimen of this famous rarity. The devices are frosty and the fields are reflective, imparting a nice cameo contrast on both sides. Just 640 circulation strikes of the date were produced, with 51 Proofs also struck. Today, Mint State specimens of this date are considerably rarer than Proofs (which are notable rarities in their own right). When available, the 1881 quarter eagle is apt to be VF or EF.
For the record, this is the sole business strike example of the date acquired by Harry Bass during his years of dedicated research and collecting, a fact that bears testimony to the actual rarity of the date. After 32 years in the Bass Collection, this delightful rarity is about to cross the auction block again. If the great prizes and rarities of the present sale were listed in order of importance, this 1881 quarter eagle would be very near the top of that list! An incredible opportunity.
PCGS Population: 3; 1 finer (MS-65).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 1767.
Choice Uncirculated 1882 $2.50
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245 1882 MS-64 (PCGS). An impressive prooflike quarter eagle with satiny honey gold devices and deeply reflective fields. Whispers of orange and rose add greatly to the overall appeal. One of only 4,000 circulation strikes of the date produced.
Date logotype evenly and deeply impressed, roughness in upper loop of first 8, 2 lower and seemingly leaning to right, dies otherwise unremarkable.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation; formerly in our sale of the Fairfield Collection, October 1977, Lot 1632.
246 1883 AU-53. Lustrous orange-gold with deep mirror areas among the stars and other recessed areas. An elusive date, one of only 1,920 business strikes produced.
Date logotype fairly high with 1 closer to the truncation than to the dentils, different from the Proof obverse which has the logotype in a lower position.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of August 1968, Lot 849.
Gem Proof 1884 Quarter Eagle
Another Classic Rarity
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247 1884 Proof-65 (PCGS). A delightful golden cameo with frosty motifs and mirror fields forming a pleasing contrast. From a stated mintage for the date of 73 coins, from which 40 or so can be accounted for today. Among survivors, very few are equal to the gem offered here. In addition, circulation strike 1884 quarter eagles are quite rare—placing additional demand on the few available Proofs. The present coin equals a splendid opportunity by all accounts.
PCGS Population: 5; 2 finer (Proof-66).
Date logotype nicely impressed into die. Date well centered horizontally and vertically, 1 marginally closer to truncation than to dentils, left edge of lower serif over left edge of dentil. A fine die line connects the lower point of the 4 to the lower loop of the 8. Upon close inspection it would seem that the portrait of Miss Liberty has a fine granular or matte surface, imparting a very nice appearance overall.
From Quality Sales Corporation’s sale of September 1973, Lot 1083.
Choice Uncirculated 1884 $2.50
A Low-Mintage Rarity
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248 1884 MS-63. Highly lustrous honey gold with prooflike reflectivity in the fields. A trace of rose iridescence is present. From a small circulation strike mintage for the date of just 1,950 pieces, and a popular rarity as a result. A delightful partner to the pleasing Proof in the preceding lot.
Date logotype moderately high, bottom of 1 twice as far from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over right side of dentil. Reverse fairly unremarkable save for some raised vertical die lines around the eagle. On the ticket that accompanies this lot, Harry Bass noted: "Scratches in dies. Need for comparison." Ever the scholar!
From Quality Sales Corporation’s sale of November 1972, Lot 1109.
249 1886 MS-62. Bright yellow gold with some olive highlights. Somewhat prooflike. Another low-mintage date, one of 4,000 circulation strikes produced.
Date logotype centrally impressed horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant, bases of numerals more deeply impressed than tops of numerals.
In our study of thousands of coin auction catalogues from the 1850s to date, plus a large number of price lists, we have noted that Mint State quarter eagles of this era are very rare, at least a couple hundred times more elusive than those of two decades later.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, December 13, 1967.
250 1888 MS-63. Incredible lustre present on satiny honey gold surfaces. From a fairly generous mintage of 16,006 circulation strikes, the odd six pieces being reserved for the Assay Commission.
Date logotype nicely impressed, numerals situated centrally. Dies otherwise unremarkable.
Purchased from Dan Brown, October 18, 1966.
Choice Uncirculated 1895 $2.50
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251 1895 MS-64. Frosty honey gold with impressive lustre and rose and olive highlights. Sharply struck. A delightful meeting of rarity and high grade, a coin that will favorably impress its next owner.
Date logotype nicely impressed in a central location below Liberty, dies otherwise unremarkable.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 1781.
Gem Uncirculated 1896 $2.50
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252 1896 MS-65. A satiny and thoroughly delightful gem with splashes of pale olive in the fields. Rich cartwheel lustre cascades on frosty honey gold surfaces. Sharply struck.
Date numerals crisp and nicely impressed in a central location. Reverse with raised die lines in upper left of vertical shield stripes, otherwise unremarkable.
From Stack’s sale of the Stewart Collection, May 1972, Lot 1698.
253 1897 MS-63. Frosty orange-gold with strong lustre.
Date logotype centrally located.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of September 1967, Lot 380.
Gem Uncirculated 1901 Quarter Eagle
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254 1901 MS-65. Lustrous honey gold with olive highlights. A superlative example of this popular issue.
Date logotype centrally located. A reverse die crack runs from the rim across the E in AMERICA to a point in the field below the letter.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of September 1967, Lot 386.
255 1902 MS-64. Frosty olive-gold.
Date logotype slightly low, bottom of 1 closer to dentils than top is to truncation, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 24, 1966.
Outstanding Gem Uncirculated 1903 $2.50
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256 1903 MS-66 (PCGS). Strong lustre present on vivid orange-gold surfaces. Somewhat matte-like in appearance. A beauty by all accounts.
Date logotype slightly high, bottom of 1 marginally farther from dentils than top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over right side of dentil.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of September 1967, Lot 387.
Gem Mint State 1904 $2.50
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257 1904 MS-65. Frosty olive-gold with delightful lustre. Choice for the grade.
Date logotype slightly low, bottom of 1 marginally closer to dentils than top is to truncation, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of September 1967, Lot 389.
258 1905 MS-63. Lustrous olive-gold. Tiny areas of orange toning on both sides.
Date logotype centrally placed, 1 and 5 heavier than 9 and 0.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 24, 1966.
259 1906 MS-64. Frosty and lustrous honey gold.
Date logotype centrally placed.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 24, 1966.
260 1907 MS-64. Lustrous honey gold. A lovely specimen from the final year of this long-lived design type, the most extensive uninterrupted span of any major design in American coinage.
Date logotype centrally placed, minor repunching at bases of 907. Harry Bass’s note reads: "907 recut East."
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 30, 1971.
261 1907 MS-63. Deep honey gold with rich orange highlights on both sides. Highly lustrous and appealing for the grade.
Date logotype centrally placed.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 24, 1966.
262 1925-D MS-64. Attractive and frosty light yellow gold lustre with sharp design details. An aesthetically pleasing example for the date or type collector. This attractive lot provides an excellent opportunity to add the remarkable Bass Collection pedigree to your type set—a piece that is beautiful but not particularly expensive.
Purchased from Abner Kreisberg, March 30, 1973.
