PCGS MS62 1804 14 STARS QUARTER EAGLE

BD-2, R-4. 14 Reverse Stars, designated by PCGS.

Between 150 and 200 are known from an original mintage estimated to be around 2,500 coins. A variety of 1804 quarter eagle exists with 13 reverse stars(BD-1) but it is extremely rare, making the more available 14 stars issue an essential component for a date set of early quarter eagles. This date is rarer in Uncirculated than the 1802/1 or the 1807 and it is almost never seen above MS61 to MS62. PCGS has graded just to finer than the present coin (both MS63) and one of these, ex Pogue I: 1122 sold for a remarkable $164,500 in May 2015.

This unquestionably Uncirculated example is frosty and it exhibits vibrant lemon-gold color which is "right" for the issue. It is well struck save for the customary weakness at the left obverse and the corresponding reverse. The obverse shows some marks which are consistent with the grade; the reverse is choice but it does show some noticeable adjustment marks from 6:00 to 9:00 which are partly hidden by the PCGS prongs.

There have been four auction records for MS62 examples of this variety since 2008 with a high water mark of $63,250 set twice in that year; once by a non-CAC coin, the other by a CAC approved specimen. More recently, the Newman V: 3195 coin, graded MS62 by NGC and CAC approved, brought a record-smashing $70,501.

For all intents and purposes, this is the finest available example of this popular date and it would also make an impressive type coin for the collector needing a representative of this scarce, short-lived issue.