7545

1832 $2 1/2 MS64 NGC. Breen-6135, Bass-3029, R.4.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1832 $2 1/2  MS64 NGC. Breen-6135, Bass-3029, R.4.
<B>1832 $2 1/2 MS64 NGC.</B></I> Breen-6135, Bass-3029, R.4. This variety was cataloged as Breen-1 in his earlier monographs from the 1960s, the only quarter eagle variety of the date, and it represents the final quarter eagle variety struck at the first United States Mint building in Philadelphia. In early January of the following year, the second Mint building was finally ready for occupation, thus the coinage of 1832, from half cents through half eagles, represent the end of an important era in American numismatics. The 1833 Mint Report, submitted on January 19th of that year by Mint Director Samuel Moore recorded the mintage of 1832 quarter eagles as 4,400 coins, or $11,000 face value. Today, we estimate that about 3% of that original mintage survives, or just over 130 coins.<BR> A survey of our own Auction Archives reveals that we have offered just 22 examples of this issue dating back to February 1993. Of that total, just seven were in grades from MS60 to MS63, with none finer. This is the first time we have offered a Choice MS64 example of this date in the last dozen years! This commentary alone tells of the elusive nature of the issue in all grades, and especially in Mint State quality. The population data from both PCGS and NGC confirm the rarity of this issue in Mint State grades. PCGS has certified just 13 Mint State examples with MS63 representing the finest from that service. Similarly, NGC has graded just 19 Mint State coins, and this MS64 example is the single finest certified by that company.<BR> It is a sharply struck Mint State coin with brilliant green-gold color and lightly abraded surfaces, just enough to keep it out of the Gem category. The fields are slightly reflective with some prooflike character, which may have led past catalogers to describe this as a Proof, although it is clearly not. The opportunity to bid on this issue in any grade is an important one, and it is even more important given the exceptional quality. Lot:7545