7544

1831 $2 1/2 --Improperly Cleaned--NCS. Unc Details.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1831 $2 1/2 --Improperly Cleaned--NCS. Unc Details.
<B>1831 $2 1/2 --Improperly Cleaned--NCS. Unc Details.</B></I> Bass-3028, Breen-6134, R.4. By the time this 1831 quarter eagle was struck, the design was working well and the new coining equipment with the closed collar had proven effective and efficient. The one very large fly in the ointment was the fact that these little quarter eagles didn't really circulate. Most were held by banks as part of their reserves, and those that did circulate often found their way to the melting pots where they could be converted back into gold bullion for a profit. Hence the mintages remained low, and for 1831 a paltry 4,520 were coined. Production during this period was so small that a single reverse die was used for the entire coinage of quarter eagles from 1830 through the end of the series in mid-1834. Of the 1831 mintage, perhaps 150 exist today, most in high circulated or Mint State grades. This particular coin was mishandled at some point in the past, something that certainly isn't uncommon on these classic American rarities. Apart from some central weakness, the design is rather nicely impressed. The surfaces are reflective with some mirrored finish still visible in the fields. A few small abrasions are visible on both sides, including some minor nicks on the fourth vertical shield stripe at the center of the reverse. The surfaces are lightly cleaned, but not objectionably so. A rare and important type coin for the collector.<BR><I>Purchased from Abner Kreisberg Corporation on June 22, 1979 for $5,500.</B></I><BR><I>From The Beverly Hills Collection.</B></I> Lot:7544