3007

1848 $2 1/2 CAL.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1848 $2 1/2 CAL.
1848 $2 1/2 CAL. MS67 NGC. Shortly after the discovery of gold in the American River region of California, some 228 ounces of Gold Rush bullion was sent by California's military governor, Colonel R.B. Mason, to Secretary of War William Learned Marcy. This was the first shipment east from the west coast's rich deposits. Marcy in turn sent the gold ore to Mint Director Robert Maskell Patterson at the Philadelphia Mint, where it was received on December 8 and was assayed at an average .894 fine. Marcy urged that, "As many may desire to procure specimens of coin made of the California gold, by exchanging other coin for it, I would suggest that it be made into quarter eagles with a distinguishing mark on each..." After enough gold had been taken from the shipment to strike a medal for Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield "Old Fuss and Feathers" Scott, the remainder was converted into quarter eagles, and as Marcy had suggested one distinguishing feature was added to each coin: the abbreviation CAL. was impressed into the reverse above the eagle. It is believed that enough gold bullion was left after the gold was extracted for the medals to strike 1,389 quarter eagles with the CAL. imprint. It is not known how many citizens actually did exchange other coins for these commemorative quarter eagles as Secretary Marcy suggested. However, the number could not have been very large, probably no more than a couple dozen pieces, as most CAL. quarter eagles are found well circulated and Mint State specimens are very rare. This is only the third Uncirculated example we have offered for sale at public auction in the past twelve years, this piece being even finer than the Eliasberg coin we offered in our 1992 ANA Sale. The CAL. quarter eagle is an absolute as well as a condition rarity also with only 50-60 pieces believed known today in all grades, the vast majority being no better than XF-AU. Twelve years ago when we sold the Eliasberg coin we believed that was the finest coin known of this important 19th century gold rarity. This piece is clearly finer, and surprisingly enough, there is even a PCGS MS68 in existence! As with most of the high grade pieces we have seen or know of, the fields are semi-prooflike. This piece shows pronounced die striations in the fields, which, of course, account for this reflectivity. Sharply defined on the obverse, the neck of the eagle and the left (facing) leg are the only portions of the design that show any softness, and this is a common area of weakness on all 1848 quarter eagles. The only abrasions of any note that can be used as pedigree identifiers are a cluster of tiny lint marks around star 4 and a tiny planchet flake above the M in AMERICA. This is a very rare opportunity to acquire this classic American rarity in the finest condition obtainable on the market today. Important notice: Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.