The 1855-C is the second scarcest quarter eagle from this mint after the 1843-C Small Date. Only 3,677 were made of which 100 or so are known today. At one time this date was all but unknown above AU55 to AU58 but at least six or seven are known today including a Gem (graded MS65 by NGC) that I have bought and sold on three different occasions.

This choice, lightly worn example shows attractive mellow green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. As on all known examples, the obverse stars are flat on the radial lines but the centers show above-average detail, especially on the reverse. The surfaces are very clean with just a few small stray marks in the obverse fields; some dirt can be seen within the recesses of the lettering on the reverse.

A non-CAC approved PCGS AU55 example sold for $6,463 as Heritage 3/14: 30267. Two CAC approved NGC AU55′s brought $6,200 and $6,325, respectively, 2012 and 2011 at Heritage auctions.

This date is not often seen in this grade and even less often with natural color and choice surfaces. An important offering for the advanced Charlotte quarter eagle specialist.

CAC has approved three in this grade with three finer.