SUPERB GEM 1861 QUARTER EAGLE WITH CAC APPROVAL

The 1861 is easily the most common Civil War era quarter eagle by virtue of its mintage of 1.283 million. It is easy to locate in the lower Uncirculated grades but properly graded Gems are, in spite of the inflated PCGS population figures, hard to locate.

This bright, frosty Gem has a wonderful two-tone appearance due to its heavily frosted obverse device and silky smooth fields. A pale rose and orange-gold hue adds further eye appeal and a few small scuffs in the left obverse field are all that keeps this coin from an otherwise-plausible MS66 grade.

Varieties of 1861 are known with the old Type One reverse and the new Type Two reverse. The New Reverse coins are far more common and are immediately identifiable by slender, well-separated arrowheads.

The last 1861 New Reverse quarter eagle graded PCGS MS65 and approved by CAC was this exact coin which sold for $7,638 as Heritage 3/13: 4126.

An 1861 quarter eagle in MS66 or above would be an "overbuy" for most collectors, making this gem with all the bells and whistles a great addition to a Civil War gold set or an advanced quarter eagle collection.

CAC has approved 5 in this grade and 3 finer.

Ex Heritage 3/13: 4126 where it realized $7,638.

FROM THE REED COLLECTION