Despite a small mintage of just 3,920 business strikes, the 1874 quarter eagle is more available in higher grades than one might expect. There are somewhere around a dozen known in Uncirculated including one Gem (graded MS65 by PCGS) and two MS64′s. I know of at least two or three MS63′s as well but most of these high grade pieces are off the market in private collections and haven’t been offered for sale in years.

This fresh-to-the-market example has intense satiny luster with very attractive rich natural yellow-gold color. There are a few scattered abrasions in the fields but nothing deep or detracting. The naked eye appearance is suggestive of a Gem and this piece has a wonderfully “fresh” appearance that suggests it has not been dipped or processed.

There have been just four auction records for this date in MS63 since 1995 and the last PCGS coin was ex Superior 2/01: 4542 which sold for $5,290. In my opinion, the present coin is nicer than the PCGS MS64 which brought $9,258 as Stacks Bowers 3/11: 6292.

It has been over a decade since a comparable example of this low mintage date was offered for sale.