The 1852-C is the seventh rarest of 20 quarter eagles from this mint. It is very scarce in the higher AU grades and is almost never seen with natural color and choice surfaces. Only three or four properly graded Uncirculated examples exist, so for most collectors a nice AU55 or AU58 is about the best they will be available to purchase.

This fresh example is one of the few totally original 1852-C quarter eagles I have seen. It shows lovely deep russet hues with underlying green-gold surfaces and it is far better made than usual for an issue often seen on defective planchets. The strike is sharp except at the centers while the fields lack the typical marks. The overall eye appeal is decidedly above average for the issue.

Only two PCGS AU55 1852-C quarter eagles have sold at auction since the beginning of 2011 and the last one, ex Heritage 7/15: 3270, just brought $4,465.

This may well be one of the finest available circulated 1852-C quarter eagles and I would personally much rather have this coin in my collection than a dipped-n-stripped AU58.

CAC has approved this one coin in AU55 with three finer.