1847-C $2.50 NGC AU58 CAC

For some reason Charlotte coins with really exceptional color are not seen as often as their Dahlonega counterparts. This 1847-C quarter eagle, while certainly not a rare coin by the standards of this mint, has exceptional color which gives it true character. The obverse and reverse are a deep green-gold with splashes of orange in the fields. As is the case with most examples of this date, the strike is excellent and this piece shows a considerable amount of frosty luster under the aformentioned coloration. This is one of the nicest toned Charlotte quarter eagles of any date that I have seen and it would make a great addition to a set that featured branch mint gold with color.

CAC has approved two in this grade and two finer.

1842-D $2.50 PCGS AU58 CAC

The 1842-D remains one of the very few quarter eagles of any date or mint that appears to still be unknown in properly graded Uncirculated. This statement can be verified by the fact that PCGS, to date, has still not graded an 1842-D quarter eagle higher than AU58 and just four at this level. This is a well-known coin with an illustrious pedigree (see below). It has a good deal of soft, frosty luster remaining and this is highly unusual for the date as most 1842-D quarter eagles are lackluster; even those grading AU50 and higher. The color is a rich natural yellow-gold with a single obverse toning spot at the juncture of the left field and the bridge of the nose. If you know this date, you know that is is extremely rare with eye appeal and this is probably the prettiest 1842-D quarter eagle that I have seen or sold. It should be noted that there is a mint-made depression on the cheek of Liberty; this is seen on many examples of this date and it does not detract. The last PCGS AU58 1842-D quarter eagle to sell at auction was Bowers and Merena 3/09: 1474 that brought $23,000. An extremely important coin for the specialist.

Ex Heritage 1/03: 4660 ($15,525), Heritage 1999 FUN: 7630 ($23,000), North Georgia collection, Stack's 10/94: 870 ($14,300), James Stack collection.

This is the only AU58 1842-D quarter eagle to be approved by CAC. None have been approved in grades higher than this.

1839/8-D $2.50 NGC AU58 CAC

Variety 1-B. This numismatically significant issue has the double honor of being the first quarter eagle made at this mint as well as being the only Dahlonega Classic Head issue of this denomination. The 1839-D is only around twelfth (of twenty) or so in regards to its overall and high grade scarcity but it is clearly one of the most popular issues of any denomination from this mint. This specific coin is very attractive with lovely deep, rich reddish-gold color which is more prominent on the obverse than on the reverse. This is a very late die state with numerous cracks on the reverse and this has weakned the detail at the reverse center. But there is little in the way of actual wear and this piece is very unsual in that it has never been cleaned, dipped or recolored like so many other third-party graded examples. In the last decade, there have been just five AU58 1839-D quarter eagles sold at auction. The last one of these was an NGC coin (Goldberg 9/10: 2764) that brought $13,800.

This is one of just two 1839-D quarter eagles that have been approved by CAC in this grade. Only one finer piece has been approved by CAC.

1855-D $2.50 PCGS AU55 CAC

At one time I felt that the 1855-D quarter eagle was the rarest coin from this mint. I now believe that this honor goes to the 1856-D quarter eagle but the 1855-D is unquestionably the second rarest. Of the 1,123 struck, around four to five dozen are known and almost all are well worn, poorly made and very unattractive. This coin is none of the above, making it exceptional for the date and grade. The quality of the planchet is far above avergae with none of the peels or imperfections seen on many 1855-D quarter eagles and the strike is actually not bad with some detail seen at the center. The surfaces show luster below medium orange-gold color and the overall eye appeal is far above average. I believe that there are no more than 12-15 properly graded AU examples of this date and at least half show prominent mint-made flaws. The last PCGS AU55 to sell at auction was Heritage 10/11: 4694 that brought $17,250. In the Heritage 2/12 auction, a pair of NGC AU55's sold for $17,250 and $18,400, respectively. An extremely important coin for the advanced specialist.

Ex Heritage 1/03: 4704 where it sold for $17,825.

This is the only 1855-D quarter eagle in AU55 to receive CAC approval; there is one finer with CAC approval.

1850-D $2.50 PCGS AU55 CAC

Due to the rarity of the issues from the middle part of this deacde, the 1850-D quarter eagle tends to be overlooked. However, it is a fairly hard coin to find in any grade with around 200 or so known from an original mintage of just 12,148. This nice, lustrous example is very solid for the grade with a good deal of luster present on both sides. The strike is typical for the date with a little bit of weakness seen at the centers but the borders are uncommonly sharp. The last PCGS AU55 example of the 1850-D to sell at auction was Bowers and Merena 6/07: 2534 which brought $4,198; since then, the last seven trades have all been for NGC coins.

CAC has approved three in this grade with five better.

1845-D $2.50 NGC MS61

When I wrote the first edition of my book on Dahlonega gold coins back in the late 1980's, the 1845-D quarter eagle was virtually unknown in Uncirculated. Since that time, a few previously unrecorded Uncirculated pieces have turned up but this date remains very rare in Mint State with no more than five or six known. This fresh-to-the-market example has unusually good overall detail for the issue with just a touch of weakness seen at the curl above Liberty's ear. The surfaces are very lustrous and show nice russet and lime-gold hues with the reverse being deeper than the obverse. The only two significantly finer 1845-D quarter eagles that I am aware of are the Duke's Creek/Bass coin (graded MS63 by both PCGS and NGC) and Green Pond: 1021 (graded MS62 by PCGS). I think this date is very undervalued in high grades and this is only the second Uncirculated 1845-D that I have handled in close to a decade.

1854-D $2.50 NGC AU53

Only 1,760 examples were struck and this is the fourth rarest quarter eagle from this mint, trailing the 1856-D, 1855-D and 1840-D in that order. When available, the typical 1854-D is very poorly produced and it grades in the EF40 to AU50 range. This Choice AU example is original and very wholesome with undipped green-gold surfaces that still retain a good deal of dirt in the protected areas. There is enough luster and detail to suggest an AU55 grade and I think that this coin's conservative rating by NGC is more reflective on its originality than anything else. As always, the neck feathers on the eagle are weakly impressed but this is an impressive 1854-D with legitimately good eye appeal. The last AU53 to sell at auction was a PCGS coin (ex Heritage 5/07: 2234) that brought $13,225 back in May, 2007. Since 1998, only six 1854-D quarter eagles have crossed the auction block.

1843-D Large D $2.50 NGC MS61+

Large D Mintmark. Variety 4-H. In October 1843, a total of 3,537 1843-D quarter eagles were produced using a Large Mintmark reverse that was also used again in 1844 and 1846. This variety is significant as it is clearly visible with the naked eye and it is recognized by PCGS. There are exactly two pieces known in Uncirculated: the current example (see below for a full pedigree) and the Bass II: 349 coin (once graded MS61 by PCGS and seemingly later upgraded to MS62 at NGC) that brought $10,350 back in October 1999 as an AU58. The present example is the finest known, in my opinion, with superb deep natural yellow-gold color on both sides. The strike is nearly totally full and the surfaces are very clean; a small spot betwen the final two stars on the obverse is mentioned for accuracy. As a date, the 1843-D is the most common quarter eagle from this mint but it is actually very rare in Uncirculated with fewer than ten properly graded pieces known. This would be one of the better examples of this date even if it weren't the rare Large D mintmark. An important coin for the advanced dahlonega specialist.

From the Duke's Creek collection and last sold by Heritage as Lot 1499 in their April 2006 where it brought $12,075 as an NGC MS61.

1854-C $2.50 NGC AU55 CAC

The 1854-C is the first of three very difficult mid-1850's quarter eagles from this mint. Only 7,295 were struck and most of the 100-125 surviving examples are well-worn and lacking in eye appeal due to extensive abrasions and poor quality of strike. This is one of the nicer circulated 1854-C quarter eagles that I have seen in some time as it shows a good overall quality of strike, a majority of its natural frosty mint luster and very attractive fiery reddish-gold toning about much of the obverse and reverse periphery. This date is rare and quite expensive in Uncirculated, so for most collectors a Choice AU such as this is a smart choice for their Charlotte quarter eagle set. Very few AU55's have sold at auction in the last five years. The only two records, both for PCGS coins, were $6,613 in February 2012 (Goldberg) and $6,325 in January 2008 (Heritage).

CAC has approved two 1854-C quarter eagles in AU55 with one finer. A total of six in all grades have been approved.