5129

[L#5129] 1804 14 Star $2.50 PCGS AU58

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:16,000.00 - 17,500.00 USD
[L#5129] 1804 14 Star $2.50 PCGS AU58
One of the most desirable of the Early quarter eagle varieties for the interesting star-count error on the reverse. The surfaces have very slight handling marks primarily in the fields, far fewer than one would expect compared to other early $2.50 gold pieces of this decade. The reverse is similar in quality with nice luster found in the choice fields. An much better strike for this issue as well, with great detail on the curl which flips around and extends over Liberty's cap and on the eagle's tail feathers.

The unusual feature of the extra star first arose in 1798. The new heraldic eagle reverse had been designed by Robert Scot, who used the Great Seal of the United States as his prototype. However, on the Great Seal the stars above the eagle in straight rows, and straight rows of stars fit poorly within a crescent of clouds. Scot aligned several of his reverse dies in straight rows, but the stars seem awkward in their placement between the clouds, scroll and eagle's head. On the 14-star reverse die the stars were run in straight lines, parallel to the left edge on the eagle's wing. Apparently this error was noticed and the die not used in 1798. However, in 1804 this reverse was used to strike both quarter eagles and dimes of with that date (both being of similar size). The quarter eagles are occasionally offered while the dimes from the same reverse are rare. For the collector, this is one of the more interesting quarter eagles in the series.