5935

1853[25C] Arrows and Rays MS67 NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1853[25C] Arrows and Rays MS67 NGC.
<B>1853<25C> Arrows and Rays MS67 NGC.</B></I> For several years leading up to 1853 U.S. silver coins were worth more melted than in their coined form. This was good for bullion dealers at the time as it provided them with an "endless chain" of profit. However, it was distinctly bad for other commercial interests and common people who needed small denomination coinage to make change in their everyday transactions. For commercial usage in the early part of 1853, quarters were best suited by default as half dimes and dimes were too cumbersome to pay off debts and half dollars were not struck until May 21. As a result, after the Act of February 21, 1853 was passed to remedy the situation, the Mint was closed to visitors and the coinage of copper was suspended. By the middle of April the Director was able to offer coins for sale, and in the first few weeks only quarters were sold as they bridged the gap between the three cent silver and the gold dollar.<BR> These new quarters weighed 96 grains, compared to the former 103 1/8 grain weight. To denote the reduction in weight arrowheads were placed on each side of the date and rays were placed around the reverse. This design format lasted only one year, with a reminder of the reduced weight carried on through 1855 with arrowheads only. More than 15 million quarters were struck of the Arrows and Rays design and they were a smashing success. One Philadelphia paper reported that the Mint had "fully overcome the complaint among the small dealers of a want of change." The new coins served their purpose excellently. For the first time since the establishment of the Mint in 1793 the nation had an adequate supply of fractional coins of uniform quality.<BR> This particular piece is one of the finest examples extant of this one-year type. All too often found with heavily toned surfaces, this is a brilliant coin with silky-smooth, satin-like mint luster. Fully struck throughout, each side is nearly abrasion-free. Both obverse and reverse display a granular texture around the margins from metal flow in those areas. Population: 4 in 67, 0 finer (7/04). <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> 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. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. 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. </span></font></tr></table></td></tr></table>