LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Long Beach, CA Sig. Coin Auction #430  / 

4283

1826/5 $2 1/2 --Ex-Jewelry, Cleaned--ANACS. MS60 Detail

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1826/5 $2 1/2 --Ex-Jewelry, Cleaned--ANACS. MS60 Detail
<B>1826/5 $2 1/2 --Ex-Jewelry, Cleaned--ANACS. MS60 Details.</B></I> Breen-6130, BD-1, High R.5. The 1826 quarter eagle is a fascinating issue. Part of the interest lies in the tiny mintage of only 760 pieces. In a series where attrition by melting wiped out most of the original mintages by 1834, the 1826 is considered a premier rarity. The two major grading services have only certified 20 coins in all grades (the finest being a pair of MS61s), which translates into probably only 12-15 individual pieces that have survived.<BR> The other interesting aspect of the 1826 is the ongoing controversy whether there is an overdate feature on these coins. The <I>Bass Sylloge</B></I> states: "This variety has traditionally been called an '1826/5' overdate, though its status as an actual overdate remains unconfirmed and dubious." When one examines the date it is easy to see why this has traditionally been considered an overdate. It appears that there is the remnant of the upper left corner of a 5 to the left of the 6. Apparently ANACS believes this as well. However, the dispute appears to have been solved 25 years ago when Akers published his auction survey series on U.S. gold. He wrote: "The known specimens of 1826 are certainly from a different obverse die than any known 1825 and this is most obvious by comparing the size of the stars. The stars are much larger on the 1826 than they are on the 1825. (Note: The stars on the 1821, 1824/1 and 1825 are all very small, while those on the 1826 and 1827 are relatively large.)<BR> The surfaces of this piece show obvious signs of cleaning at one time in the form of light hairlines. We do not see evidence of the Ex-Jewelry notation on the insert, so we assume it is on the edge of the coin. The fields are also bright and show traces of die striations which imparted much of the semi-reflective quality to the coin. Sharply struck throughout, the orange-gold surfaces show traces of light reddish patina around the stars and other devices. A rare opportunity to acquire this seldom-offered Capped Head Left quarter eagle, the rarest issue in the five date Large Diameter series from 1821 to 1827.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot