VERY RARE CHOICE UNCIRCULATED 1862 QUARTER EAGLE

The 1862 is the second most available Philadelphia quarter eagle made during the Civil War, after the very common 1861. There are as many as 20 known in Uncirculated but most of these are in the MS60 to MS61 range. Of the three PCGS MS64′s, the only one which I feel is finer than this coin is ex Bass IV: 214 where it sold for $10,925 in November, 2000.

This fresh-to-the-market example has been out of collectors hands for over 30 years and it is the finest business strike of this date which I have ever owned. It is remarkably well detailed and frosty with unadulterated rose and light yellow-gold color. The obverse is a solid MS64 on its own with just a few light scuffs in the fields; the reverse is a bit “marky” above the eagle’s head and this is likely what kept this coin from grading a full MS64.

The last PCGS MS63 1862 quarter eagle to sell at auction realized $8,343 as Heritage 2/16: 3356 and it had questionable color as well as no CAC approval. I personally like this PCGS MS63+ better than the PCGS MS64 which realized $16,100 as Heritage 9/11: 4216.

This exceptional coin is solidly in the Condition Census for the date and it appeals to both Liberty Head quarter eagle specialists and Civil War gold collectors.

CAC has approved two in MS63 (one in MS63+) with none finer.