Arrows and Rays variety.

Arrows and Rays were added to the quarter and half dollar denominations in 1853 to indicate a reduction in weight. The rays on the reverse were removed in 1854, making the 1853 Arrows and rays a one-year type coin. This issue is very common in circulated grades and only marginally scarce in MS62 to MS63 but it is hard to find in properly graded MS64 and rare in Gem. Most of the examples in MS64 holders have been dipped and it is very hard to find coins with natural color and choice surfaces.

This coin has the “look” seen on the small percentage of remaining original 1853 A+R quarters with deep “silvery” grey color and darker highlights. This covers very lustrous surfaces and while deeply toned, this piece is still vibrant and appealing. A few tiny, well-hidden marks in the right obverse field narrowly preclude a higher grade.

No PCGS MS64 with CAC approval has sold at auction in the last few years. A PCGS MS64+ with CAC approval was bid to $7,344 as Stacks Bowers 2/13: 1334. Nice quality non-CAC MS64 examples sell in the range of $3,500 to $4,000 when offered at auction.

A sensible alternative to a PCGS/CAC MS65 which, if available, will cost in the $15,000-20,000 range.

CAC has approved 22 in this grade with only 6 finer.