IMPORTANT HIGH CONDITION CENSUS PCGS MS62 1851-D $2.50, ex Auraria Collection

For many years, the 1851-D was an unrecognized issue in the Dahlonega quarter eagle series. Better dissemination of information has allowed collectors to learn the true scarcity of this date in higher grades. As few as four or five exist in Uncirculated, with the Gem NGC MS65 Duke’s Creek/Eliasberg coin which sold for $63,250 in April 2006 being the finest known by a considerable margin.

This piece is well-known within the Dahlonega gold community as it has a famous provenance (see below). It is very well-struck with just a touch of weakness on the top portion of the eagle’s legs. There is considerable soft frosty luster below rich natural orange-gold color which is a bit more extensive on the reverse. A few small marks are present but none is out of keeping for the assigned grade.

Since 1999, there has been just a single auction appearance for this date in PCGS MS62: Heritage 2022 FUN: 3908 at $26,400.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the third finest known 1851-D $2.50, trailing the aforementioned NGC MS65 and a PCGS MS62+ which is almost certainly one of the MS62 coins which was upgraded.

Ex Florida collection via private treaty sale from DWN; earlier in the Auraria Collection and purchased by DWN as agent from the following sale: Heritage 1999 FUN: 7648 ($28,800; as PCGS MS61), North Georgia Collection, Mid American Rare Coin Auctions 1/1985: 1267, Jasper Robertson Collection.

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