AN UNCIRCULATED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST OBTAINABLE SF QUARTER EAGLE

Fewer than a dozen 1854-S quarter eagles exist and none were struck in 1855, making the 1856-S the first date available for most collectors. This issue is moderately scarce in Uncirculated with an estimated 15-20 known, mostly in the MS60 to MS62 range. Some exceptional 1856-S quarter are known, most notably a singular PCGS MS67 which was auctioned in September, 2015 for a record-setting $85,188.

This sharply detailed example is unusual in that it is mostly prooflike as opposed to the typical 1856-S which is satiny or frosty in texture. This strong degree of reflectiveness somewhat unfairly accentuates the scuffs and small marks in the fields and this piece is much cleaner in hand than the accompanying images suggest. This piece has never before been available for sale to collectors and it appears to be untampered with unlike most 1856-S quarter eagles.

There are no APR’s for PCGS MS61′s since March 2003.

A nice example of this historically significant Gold Rush era issue.