10461

1849 $2 1/2 Mormon Quarter Eagle AU53 PCGS. K-1,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:24,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1849 $2 1/2 Mormon Quarter Eagle AU53 PCGS. K-1,
<B>1849<$2 1/2> Mormon Quarter Eagle AU53 PCGS.</B></I> K-1, High R.5. A highly desirable example of this sought-after rarity, especially so in high grade. Although a few finer coins exist, this particular sale actually has a selection of these elusive coins. Struck from gold dust collected along the American River in California, soon after the Gold Rush began in 1848-49. The obverse die show buckling through the lower portion of the all seeing eye, which weakens that area, and this is diagnostic for this issue. Struck from the native California gold with additional alloys added which brought the gold content below the stated value on the coins. Once this fact was discovered, few merchants accepted these coins outside the Mormon church, and the vast majority of the issue was melted. Finding an attractive example as seen here might take the territorial specialist years of searching. This particular coin is identifiable by a small nick on the upper left of the N in HOLINESS. Even yellow-gold in color with traces of luster in the protected areas. We suspect that this coin barely circulated, and the buckling of the obverse die caused the devices to be weak as opposed to wear from circulation. An important coin that is not to be missed. Listed on page 308 of the 2005 <I>Guide Book.</B></I> Population: 2 in 53, 7 finer (6/05).<BR><I>From The Great Western Collection of Territorial Gold.</B></I>