SCARCE PCGS/CAC 1861-S QUARTER EAGLE

The 1861-S is not as scarce overall as the 1862-S and 1863-S quarter eagles but it is an undervalued issue with fewer than 100 known in all grades. I am aware of just three Uncirculated 1861-S quarter eagles, the finest of which grades MS62+ at PCGS.

This is a textbook AU55 with considerable natural luster seen beneath nice natural yellow and orange-gold color which is "right" for the date; only a handful of 1861-S quarter eagles haven't been scrubbed. There is a touch of weakness on the eagle's neck as made but this is certainly one of the very best AU55 examples of this date which are currently available.

Only three PCGS AU55 1861-S quarter eagles have sold at auction since May 2001 and the last one, sold in May 2012, realized $4,600 and wasn't CAC approved.

Civil War dated gold coins have shown great appreciation during the past decade but the 1861-S quarter eagle still represents good overall value in my opinion.

CAC has approved three in this grade with two finer (both AU58). A total of nine have been approved in all grades.