September 15, 2003, Pre-Long Beach Sale - Coins, Sale 21

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Quarter Dollars (Bust and Liberty Seated)
 
Lot 314        1796 Draped Bust Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded Fair-02. First year of the entire Quarter Dollar series, here in a low grade that will appeal to the thousands of collectors who await the day when they can cross this coin off their want list. Uneven wear patterns and numerous scratches on both sides, but still visually appealing. The date is bold and clearly legible, as is the word LIBERTY. Many of the stars can be made out readily. Most of the reverse is gone and only portions of the legends, wreath, and eagle are visible. A classic "collector" coin (Photo).
Estimate $2,000-2,500.
 
Lot 315        1805 Draped Bust Quarter Dollar. AU-55. Lovely, silver-gray toning enhanced by the addition of green and blue highlights. Near-perfect centering and a decent strike, despite some weakness on the stars, Liberty's shoulder, and in the clouds on the reverse. Struck from clashed dies, with most of the evidence of the contact visible on the reverse. A great coin for type purposes or for anyone looking for an original example of this date (Photo).
Estimate $2,000-2,500.
 
Lot 316        1818 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. ICG graded Fine-15. Even wear and light toning (Photo).
Estimate $70-90.
 
Lot 317        1828 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. 25 over 50¢. PCGS graded AU-58. Well struck with a mixture of semi-reflective and frosty mint surfaces. Only the slightest evidence of friction is noted, all untoned. Pop 2 with 2 higher, MS-62 and MS-63 (Photo).
Estimate $5,000-5,500.
 
Lot 318        1831 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. AU-50. Still lustrous and completely original. Accompanied by an NGC insert confirming the grade (Photo).
Estimate $400-450.
 
Lot 319        1831 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. Small letters. MS-60 +. Well struck with a scratch on reverse below STATES. Attractive steel-grey toning (Photo).
Estimate $500-550.
 
Lot 320        1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded AU-50. Original gray-blue toning on both sides (Photo).
Estimate $450-500.
 
Lot 321        1835 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. NGC graded AU-58. Lovely turquoise, gold and violet toning on the obverse, violet and blue on the reverse (Photo).
Estimate $550-600.
 
Lot 322        1836 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded MS-63. A choice uncirculated example exhibiting natural shades of deep golden sunset toning. A much under rated date. Pop 6 with 5 better, best being 1 in MS-65 (Photo).
Estimate $2,500-3,000.
 
Lot 323        1843-O Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded AU-55. Well struck and well toned. Pop 4 with 7 higher, best being MS-64 (Photo).
Estimate $1,000-1,100.
 
Lot 324        1853-O Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. Arrows and rays. PCGS graded AU-50. Nicely toned. Pop 13 with 21 higher, best being MS-64 (Photo).
Estimate $700-850.
 
Lot 325        1854 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. Arrows. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck and white (Photo).
Estimate $250-300.
 
Lot 326        1861 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. A nice, frosty example of this No Motto date, struck as the Civil War was ramping up. Bluntly struck on some of the stars, but rather sharp everywhere else. Untoned. PCGS reports 32 at this level, with 11 finer (the best being 3 in MS-67) (Photo).
Estimate $2,800-3,100.
 
Lot 327        1866-S Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. With motto. Sharpness of Very Fine. Cleaned. Still, a pleasing example of this low-mintage date (Photo).
Estimate $300-400.
 
Lot 328        1868 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded Proof 62 Cameo. A pleasing example for this numerical grade and all, lightly toned. Only 600 proofs struck (Photo).
Estimate $325-400.
 
Lot 329        1874 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. Arrows. NGC graded MS-67. A silky smooth Gem, mostly white in color, with a hint of toning forming at the rims. The surfaces are simply luscious, with a strong "cartwheel" effect on both sides. Impeccable quality and a wonderful strike. NGC reports only two examples at this level, with none graded finer.

The arrowheads on either side of the date signify an increase in the weight of the coin from 6.22 to 6.25 grams. The underlying purpose of the change had nothing to do with the relationship of the coin's intrinsic and face values (as it did in 1853, when arrowheads were first used to signify a weight reduction). Rather, the change was made to introduce the metric system into our coinage. Beginning in 1873, coins would no longer be weighed in grains, but in grams. Thus, the 96 grain standard for the Quarter would become 6.25 grams instead. In reality, this was an insignificant change, as the tolerances for the planchets would have allowed the old standard of 6.22 grams under the new standard! However, the change was meant to be cultural, or scientific, or psychological, but not really physical. No one hefting an 1874 Quarter could tell a difference of .03 grams, but they might ask "What is the meaning of the arrowheads on either side of the date?" The answer: "We've converted to the metric system?" Which leads to a second question (one still being asked by many Americans today), "What's that?" (Photo).
Estimate $12,000-15,000.
 
Lot 330        1874-S Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. Arrows. PCGS graded MS-66. A well struck gleaming frosty white example. An outstanding specimen of the arrows at date quarter type. Pop 26 with 1 higher in MS-67 by PCGS (Photo).
Estimate $4,800-5,300.
 
Lot 331        1875 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded Proof 65. A stunning gem example with magnificent toning. The centers are violet and turn to iridescent electric blue at the borders. Only 700 proofs minted of which this must rank among the most beautiful. A great looking coin that could fetch a run away price (Photo).
Estimate $1,600-1,900.
 
Lot 332        1879 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. A blast gem white example. A low mintage date that is more often seen as a proof, but hardly ever as splendid as this lovely example. Pop 24 with 16 better, best being PR-68 Cameo (Photo)

Ex: P. Kaufman Sale.
Estimate $2,000-2,300.
 
Lot 333        1882 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded Proof 67. Beautiful electric blue and gold iridescent toning on both sides. Pop 11 with none finer. Here is our candidate for "most beautiful" (Photo).
Estimate $5,000-5,500.
 
Lot 334        1883 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded Proof 65. A splendid, totally brilliant white example with excellent contrast. We note some faint hairlines, most of which are on the holder and not on the coin (Photo).
Estimate $900-1,000.
 
Lot 335        1884 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. Proof 58. Irregular toning on both sides. Scarce as both a Proof and a circulation strike, thus any example of this date is desirable (Photo).
Estimate $250-325.
 
Lot 336        1886 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded Proof 67. Spectacular rainbow toning on both sides. With a mintage of only 886 proofs struck, this pristine gem must rank among the most beautiful. Pop 10 with 2 higher in PR-68 (Photo).
Estimate $4,000-5,000.
 
Lot 337        1888 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. Well struck and superb. The pristine surfaces are undisturbed and overlaid with creamy white and a touch of pale violet tone. Pop 32 with 6 higher, all MS-67 (Photo).
Estimate $2,000-2,300.
 
Lot 338        1888-S Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. A well struck blast white example with satiny mint surfaces throughout. Pop 5 with 1 higher in MS-67 (Photo).
Estimate $2,200-2,400.
 
Lot 339        1889 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. An exquisite pristine gem that is absolutely superb! The centers exhibit a uniform violet and are surrounded by iridescent electric blue. This is truly a stunning example. A low mintage date as only 12,000 were minted for circulation. Pop 18 with 1 higher in MS-68. (Photo).
Estimate $3,500-4,000.
 
Lot 340        1889 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-64. A well struck frosty white example. Only 12,000 struck for circulation (Photo).
Estimate $600-650.
 
Lot 341        1890 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck white example with lovely satiny mint surfaces throughout. A touch of tone is starting to form on the obverse (Photo).
Estimate $1,000-1,200.
 
Lot 342        1891-O Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar. MS-65. A bold strike with semi prooflike surfaces. Mottled grayish-violet and electric blue toning adds to its appeal. A low mintage date and very rare in this lofty grade (Photo).
Estimate $9,000-11,000.