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Totally original and very choice for the grade with lovely deep amber-gold color on the obverse and reverse. Lightly worn and with dirt caked into the protected areas. Certainly not a really rare coin but not an issue that is often found with this degree of eye appeal. In fact, this is the only 1838 quarter eagle in AU55 that currently has CAC approval (eight examples graded higher also have a CAC sticker)
Small Mintmark variety. This totally fresh-to-the-market 1843-D quarter eagle has superb original color with deep coppery-gold and rich reddish-green hues, in different configurations, on the obverse and reverse. The surfaces are very clean with no detracting marks and there is a good amount of dirt in the protected areas. The 1843-D is the most common quarter eagle from this mint but it is not often offered with original color and surfaces. Considering the fact that really nasty slabbed examples of this date rountinely trade in the $2000-2500 range, this piece seems like a wonderful value at just a small premium.
This date is often offered for sale in the AU53 to AU55 range but almost never with deep, original coloration. This example is as fresh an 1857-O quarter eagle as you will find with rich green-gold color and a good deal of dirt tucked-away in the recesses. A few old ticks in the field are nicely concealed by the depth of the coloration. You could literally look for years and not find a nicer circulated 1857-O quarter eagle than this.
Ex Stack's 2/1983: 719, Eugene Detmer collection. The original auction tag accompanies the coin.
The 1837 is the second scarcest Classic Head quarter eagle from the Philadelphia mint after the 1839. It is dozens of time scarcer than the 1834 and 1835 yet it sells for a relatively small premium. This lightly worn, well-struck example is one of the few original 1837 quarter eagles that I can recall having seen in some time. It shows deep orange-gold hues that are contrasted by reddish bands at the borders. There are no marks of note and just a small amount of friction on the high spots of the obverse. It has been quite a while since I've handled a circulated 1837 quarter eagle with as much eye appeal as this piece.
Given the fact that this is the most common quarter eagle from this mint and it is among the best produced, the 1843-D is a perfect type coin for the collector who is becoming interested in Dahlonega gold. This deep green-gold example is original and choice with a good deal of dirt in the recesses of the obverse and reverse. It is sharply detailed and has good overall eye appeal for the date and grade. I'm often asked if it is still possible to purchase nifty branch mint gold for $2,000-3,000 and I offer a coin like this as proof that such pieces still exist.
Of the three primary denominations struck at the Dahlonega mint, the quarter eagle is probably the most difficult to locate in choice, original Extremely Fine. Despite how hard it is to find such coins, these pieces are not out of reach for most collectors and I think they are amongst the best values in the rare date gold arena. This pleasing, original EF 1845-D quarter eagle has nice medium to deep green-gold color and plenty of residual dirt in the crevesses of the obverse and reverse. There is some weakness at the central obverse due to strike and a few old nicks and marks on the obverse that are well-hidden by the natural toning. A perefect Dahlonega quarter eagle for the first time buyer who is ready to take the plunge.
