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1808 $2 1/2 --Cleaned--ANACS. AU55 Details. While other

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:22,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1808 $2 1/2 --Cleaned--ANACS. AU55 Details. While other
<B>1808<$2 1/2>--Cleaned--ANACS. AU55 Details.</B></I> While other coins designed and engraved by John Reich are better known and more widely collected (Bust halves, for instance), the 1808 quarter eagle is undoubtedly the rarest creation of Reich's. Only 2,710 pieces were struck. All came from a single delivery on February 26. While the date and letter punches were later used on 1809 dimes, Breen notes that the bust and device punches were not later resurrected.<BR> While the reason for this tiny mintage may never be known, it may be in part because of die breakage. Almost all coins (this piece included) show a die crack from the cap through all the stars on the right side. Another reason for the low mintage was undoubtedly how depositors wanted the mint to transfer their bullion into coin form. In general, silver was converted into half dollars and gold was converted into half eagles.<BR> One distinctive feature of the 1808 quarter eagle is the small rim surrounding each side. Often this rim is nicked and it provided little protection for the interior features of the coin. This may be another reason for early retirement of this design--a situation that would be analogous to that seen on Paquet twenties. This particular coin is bright from cleaning. However, most of the 1808 quarter eagles we have seen show yellow-gold surfaces and this coin is not that far from the norm. As one would expect, there are numerous tiny marks on the rims and irregular definition on the denticles. Sharply struck in most areas with only the stars on the right side of the obverse showing any notable weakness. A couple of light scratches are seen on the cheek of Liberty, and there are a couple of shorter ones in the reverse fields. All in all, an exceptionally well detailed example of this key gold type coin.