1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

As California gold poured into jap metropolitan facilities, the Philadelphia Mint ramped up manufacturing throughout 5 gold coin denominations, with the 1851 Liberty Head Double Eagle and the 1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle making up the majority of the yr’s output.

With a mintage of 1,372,748 cash, the 1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is without doubt one of the extra frequent Nineteenth-century problems with the collection, but it’s nonetheless more durable to supply than the 1852 and 1853 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles.

Most licensed examples of the 1851 are in About Uncirculated or Mint State grades. The coin is a conditional rarity in Gem and above.

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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens

The Harry W. Bass, Jr. coin (PCGS MS66 #5652480) was a high pop, pop one coin from the time it was graded (in or round 2000) till someday between 2015 and 2018, when PCGS licensed a single MS67. General, the inhabitants of this coin has remained steady because the 2010s. In late 2013, NGC reported 40 examples at MS64 with 10 finer. As of October 25, 2024, the NGC MS64 inhabitants has risen to only 41, whereas the quantity graded finer has risen to fifteen, 5 of these being MS64+.

High Inhabitants: PCGS MS67 (1, 10/2024), NGC MS66 (1, 10/2024), and CAC MS67 (1:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).

• NGC MS66 #6815224-003: Stack’s Bowers, June 13, 2023, lot 2056 – $9,600. Horizontal scratch to the left of star 12. Two small vertical marks from the highest of Liberty’s head to star 7. On the reverse, there may be an obvious lightened space beneath E of STATES. There’s a small diagonal tick on this space. Planchet void between bar and a couple of.
• PCGS MS66 #5652480: “The Fairfield Assortment, Bowers and Ruddy, October 1977, Lot 1524. As PCGS MS66 #5652480. “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Assortment, Half IV,” Bowers and Merena, November 2000, Lot 177; Heritage Auctions, February 26, 2015, Lot 3206 – $9,400. HW Bass Jr Coll on insert. High pop, pop one when supplied; Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2018, Lot 5193 – $9,000. Pop one, one finer. Blob of discoloration round chin in left obverse discipline. Discoloration beneath star 7. On the reverse, darkish spot beneath E of STATES. Diagonal streaks throughout discipline above eagle’s head.
• NGC MS65 #6823684-005: Heritage Auctions, December 15, 2023, Lot 3430 – $4,107.60; Stack’s Bowers, March 28, 2024, Lot 7449 – $3,960. A skinny vertical streak runs down Liberty’s neck. On the reverse, there may be copper-colored toning above and beneath O of OF.
• PCGS MS65 #81327673: GreatCollections, October 23, 2016, Lot 399779 – View. Discoloration spot beneath chin. On the reverse, spot beneath first T of STATES.
• PCGS MS65 #25616094: Stack’s Bowers, Might 31, 2016, Lot 14029 – $5,640. Small planchet void at denticles between stars 6 and seven. Small firming spot beneath A of STATES. Planchet void between eagle’s left wing and arrows. Cluster of depressions between interpunct and A.
• PCGS MS65 #25038798: Stack’s Bowers, Might 9, 2013, Lot 1264 – $5,875. Small gouge on cheek. Curved scratch between stars 7 and eight. Die crack on bust truncation above 8. Small ticks to the left of stars 12 and 13. Small tick on bun. On the reverse, a small diagonal hairline scratch from eagle’s head in direction of second E of STATES. Horizontal scratch beneath ES. Small tick above department.
• NGC MS65 #1887198-002: Heritage Auctions, February 24, 2005, Lot 7569 – $5,290. Skinny mark to the higher left of star 8.

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1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specs

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