1833 $2.50 MS(PCGS#7673)

The March 2010 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Bowers & Merena

批号

3583

等级

AU53

价格

86,438

详细说明

1833 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle. BD-1, HBCC-3030, the only known dies. Rarity-5. AU-53 (NGC). Throughout the earliest years of the denomination, the Quarter Eagle was not the favored denomination among contemporary gold bullion depositors within the United States. (That distinction goes to the Half Eagle.) Since pre-1834 U.S. gold coins were struck at the request of depositors instead of on government account, it is easy to understand why so few Quarter Eagles were produced from 1796-1834. Compounding the rarity of the Capped Head Left pieces from the 1820s and 1830s are rising gold prices that resulted in many issues experiencing widespread melting. Whether this was done through exportation, by local speculators, by the Mint itself or through a combination of factors makes little difference--the end result of low mintages and poor rates of survival for the Capped Head Left series is extreme rarity for all issues.<br />     This 1833 comes down to us from a mintage of just 4,160 pieces. And by accepting the estimate provided by John W. Dannreuther in the 2006 book <em>Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties: A Study of Die States, 1795-1834</em>, we can establish this piece as one of only 60-80 survivors in numismatic hands. Both sides exhibit deep khaki-gold patina, the peripheries also with slightly brighter copper-rose highlights. Flickers of original luster are still evident in isolated areas, and overall bold definition also points to a relatively short stint in active circulation. Wispy handling marks are noted, but we see few singularly conspicuous abrasions. This piece is obviously important for the early gold specialist, although the overall rarity of the Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle as a type suggests that the coin will see spirited bidding from a wide variety of collectors.