1849-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

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

Given the inflow of large quantities of placer gold from California, 1849 noticed the introduction of two new coin denominations. Small, wafer skinny, and positively extra moveable than the silver greenback, the Gold Greenback was meant to flow into as an “everyman’s” coin. The opposite coin was a lot bigger, double the worth of the Liberty Head Eagle, the $10 gold coin from which Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle have been denominated.

United States Mint Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre efficiently launched the Gold Greenback in 1849 however was stymied in his efforts to get the Liberty Head Double Eagle into manufacturing.

Of the 4 obtainable gold coin denominations, the Dahlonega Mint in Georgia was despatched dies to strike three: the Gold Greenback, the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, and the Liberty Head Half Eagle.

The 1849-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle mintage of 10,945 cash was the bottom of the three, and, by a small diploma, it’s rarer in Mint State than the 1849-D Liberty Head Half Eagle. Curiously, essentially the most fragile of the three coin varieties, the 1849-D Gold Greenback, is essentially the most obtainable Dahlonega concern of the denomination in Mint State. As many as 100 to 120 uncirculated examples are identified.

This quantity is barely lower than the whole variety of 1849-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagles identified in all grades. This can be a increased inhabitants than what was identified when David W. Akers estimated a surviving inhabitants of 51 items in his reference United States Gold Cash, An Evaluation of Public sale Data, Quantity I (1975).

Three die pairs have been despatched to Dahlonega to strike the cash, however solely two varieties are identified.

These are recognized by the place of the date in relationship to the denticles. The scarcer of the 2, recognized by Doug Winter as Selection 12-N, includes a low date the place the left tip of the foot of the “1” touches the denticle. On the excessive date obverse (Selection 11-N), the date is healthier centered within the area under the bust.

Because the reverse die was shared alongside each varieties, a function frequent to most 1849-D Liberty Quarter Eagles is weak reverse denticulation.

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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens

Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS62 (3, 10/2024), NGC MS62 (4, 10/2024), and CAC MS60 (1:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).

• PCGS MS62 #83837065: As NGC MS62 #1720150-005. “The Fenn Household Assortment, Half III,” Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2017, Lot 5809 – $18,221.90. As PCGS MS62 #83837-65. Dell Loy Hansen. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Skinny scratch from 9 o’clock rim to chin. Diagonal deeper lower from rim to chin from under star 2.
• PCGS MS62 #12525226: As PCGS MS61 #21026477. Arthur Lamborn Assortment; “The Fairfield Assortment,” Bowers and Ruddy, October 1977, Lot 1518 – $1,350; Goliad Company (Mike Brownlee); “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Assortment,” Bowers and Merena, October 1999, Lot 423 – $16,100; Spectrum Numismatics; Doug Winter; Doug Winter bought in February 2000; Heritage Auctions, September 10, 2004, Lot 7408 – $15,985; “The Inexperienced Pond Assortment,” Heritage Auctions,” September 18, 2005, Lot 1027; “The Charleston Assortment,” American Numismatic Rarities, September 18, 2005, Lot 1111 – $16,100. As PCGS MS62 #12525226. Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2009, Lot 4010 – $23,000. Selection 11-M. Excessive Date. Upgraded by 1 level. Small spot to the higher left of star 2. Tick on chin. Misshapen space on the right-side obverse rim. Probably dipped sooner or later.
• NGC MS62 #302714-010: “The Renz Assortment,” B. Max Mehl, March 1948, Lot 3581; “The Bareford Assortment,” Stack’s, December 1978, Lot 97 – $3,800; The Dr. Arthur Montgomery Assortment;  Hancock and Harwell;  “Public sale ’84,” Stack’s, August 1984, Lot 1318 – $5,500; Georgia Assortment; Hancock and Harwell; “The Leon Farmer Assortment”; “The Duke’s Creek Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, April 7, 2006, Lot 1506 – $24,150; Heritage Auctions, August 7, 2014, Lot 5626 – $18,800. DUKES CREEK on insert. Selection 12-M. Vertical patch of discoloration dominates the left obverse discipline. Comparable patches of discoloration elsewhere. Two ticks on the again of the cheek. Denticles weak on the reverse from 3 o’clock to 11 o’clock. Discoloration under STATES OF.
• NGC MS62 #402605-003: (probably) Heritage Auctions, September 2002, Lot 7980 – Handed; Heritage Auctions, December 24, 2002, Lot 17456 – $18,975; Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2007, Lot 3414 – $17,250. Tick on jaw. Horizontal scratch from star 4 to hair. Planchet void underneath star 8. On the reverse, deep scratch from D of denomination to the second A of AMERICA. The higher portion of the A is dented.
• NGC MS62: As Uncirculated. David W. Akers, Might 1998 – $30,800.
• PCGS MS61 #29529696: Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Diagonal scratch from high tip of star 1 to neck. Obverse denticles weak from 8 o’clock to 11 o’clock. Reflective space to decrease proper of second A of AMERICA. Copper spot on denticles above CA.
• PCGS MS61 #32601310: As NGC MS61 #3413441-002. Heritage Auctions, October 19, 2012, Lot 5564 – $12,925. As PCGS MS61 #32601310. Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2017, Lot 4089 – $16,450. Selection 11-M. Excessive Date. Vertical hit within the left obverse discipline to the left of nostril.
• NGC MS61 #1582000-002: Heritage Auctions, February 6, 2009, Lot 2500 – $10,350. Diagonal lower underneath eye.
• PCGS MS60 CAC #6575080: Mid-American, August 1991, Lot 653; Hancock and Harwell, 1994; “The North Georgia Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 1999, Lot 7645 – $21,900; “The Mark Hurst Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 2001, Lot 8086 – $13,800; Doug Winter to the Kansas Assortment; “The John O. Sykes Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, Lot 6052 – $14,400. North Georgia on insert. Skinny scratch behind bun. Curved hairline scratch to the fitting of star 1. Excessive Date.

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1849-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specs

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