1853 25C Arrows and Rays MS(PCGS#5426)

Spring 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

3008

等级

MS65+

价格

59,324

详细说明

Splendid 1853 Arrows and Rays Quarter 1853 Liberty Seated Quarter. Arrows and Rays. MS-65+ (PCGS). Handsome originality and noteworthy condition rarity for this perennially popular one-year design type in the Liberty Seated quarter series. Softly frosted in finish, the surfaces exhibit mottled olive-russet, blue-gray and golden-rose iridescence that is a bit more pronounced on the reverse. There is a base of antique silver patina to both sides, which flows serenely from rim to rim in the absence of even trivial distractions. Razor sharp strike detail is also a praiseworthy attribute. The huge quantities of gold coming from California beginning in 1849 drove up the price of silver relative to gold. This led to a cycle of speculation, resulting in the melting of many minor silver coins, significantly impacting the supply of them in commerce. To counteract this, Congress passed the Act of February 21, 1853, which reduced the weights of the minor silver denominations, but left the silver dollar unchanged. The quarter's weight dropped from 103.125 grains (6.6 grams) to 96.000 grains (6.22 grams), significant enough to help staunch the flow of coins into the crucible. The change in standard was marked by the addition of arrows at either side of the date of all affected denominations and a halo of rays surrounding the eagle on the reverse on the quarter and half dollar. The Philadelphia Mint struck over 15 million Arrows and Rays quarters in 1853 using more than 100 obverse and reverse dies. This would prove to be the only year of issue for the type as the rays were removed the following year. The 1853 quarters were regularly seen in circulation until the 1930s and were specifically left off of many dealer want lists. Seen as a common date, it was frequently ignored even in the very highest preservation levels, so that while there are several thousand extant pieces, most are circulated. While a decent number of Mint State specimens exist they are predominantly at the lower end of the scale. So while this is one of the most available Liberty Seated quarter issues, it is decidedly rare at the Gem level and finer. The Millholland coin is near the peak of perfection for the both the issue and the type. Provenance: From the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911. PCGS Population: 5; 12 finer (MS-67 finest). To view all items from the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911 click here. To view supplemental information pertaining to the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911 click here. PCGS# 5426. NGC ID: 23U4. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.