CONDITION CENSUS 1857-S QUARTER EAGLE

While fairly easy to find in EF40-AU55 grades, this early date SF quarter eagle is quite rare in Uncirculated with probably no more than seven to eight known. This example is one of the two or three finest I have seen or handled and only one coin, an MS64 which has never been sold at auction, has been graded finer than this by PCGS.

This is an uncommonly well struck example with complete definition seen at the centers. It is vibrant and very frosty with a blush of pale pink-rose color over medium gold surfaces. A few small scuffs on the upper obverse are really all that separates this piece from an MS63 grade.

The only other known PCGS/CAC MS62 1857-S quarter eagle sold for $7,638 as Heritage 1/14: 6449. The current example is a noticeably finer coin, in my opinion.

Due to its association with the similarly-dated double eagles, the 1857-S quarter eagle is popular with collectors attempting to form a date set of high quality 1857-S gold issues.

This is one of two MS62 examples approved by CAC with none finer.

Ex DLRC 5/07: 1632 at $7,475.