IMPORTANT CONDITION CENSUS PCGS/CAC MS63 1877 QUARTER EAGLE

Just 1,632 quarter eagle were made for circulation by the Philadelphia mint in 1877. This date is not as scarce as one would expect from its small production but it is still a tough date, especially in Uncirculated. There are an estimated 10-15 known in Uncirculated with most in the MS60 to MS62 range. In MS63, the 1877 quarter eagle is very rare with no more than three or four known and the single best I am aware of is a PCGS MS64 which sold for $14,375 in the 2010 ANA auction.

As with most higher grade business strike 1877 quarter eagles, this piece is semi-prooflike with a nice blend of frost and reflectivness. The best feature of this sparkling, choice coin is its rich natural orange-gold color which turns to a light green-gold as the surfaces hit a light source. Close examination reveals some scattered ticks which limit the grade but this piece has excellent overall eye appeal for the date and grade.

Only one PCGS MS63 1877 quarter eagle has been auctioned since 1999 and it realized $8,813 as Heritage 1/16: 6378. That coin was not approved by CAC.

The run of post-Civil War quarter eagles from Philadelphia includes a number of issues which are almost never seen in higher grades and the 1877 is clearly one of these.

CAC has approved two in this grade with just one finer (MS64).