Extremely Rare 1842 Small Date Quarter, PR64

1842 25C Small Date PR64 NGC. Ex: P. Kaufman. The Phil Kaufman 1842 Small Date proof quarter is one of only seven known pieces, two of which are permanently impounded in the cabinets of the American Numismatic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. Proof 1842 quarters are known for both the Small Date and Large Date varieties. While many additional Large Date quarters exist in circulated and Mint State grades, the Small Date variety is a proof-only issue, thus the seven pieces in our roster are the only coins available to collectors.
Little is known about early appearances of the 1842 Small Date proof quarter. One citation appeared in the April 1975 Gobrecht Journal. In an article titled "Three Rare Quarters," Scott Rubin writes that the first offering of an 1842 Small Date that he could find was in the Charles Steigerwalt June 1893 Fixed Price List #39, where a proof was listed at $20.
The following roster of 1842 Small Date proof quarters is based on a survey of plated auction catalogs, along with information provided in the listings of previous catalogers.

1. PR66 NGC. The Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1516.
2. PR65 PCGS. The Jerome Kern Sale (B. Max Mehl, 5/1950), lot 1432; Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997), lot 1428; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2002), lot 210.
3. PR64 Cameo NGC. The Kaufman specimen. Century Sale (Paramount, 4/1965), lot 872; R.L. Miles (Stack's, 4/1969), lot 39; Robison Collection (Stack's, 2/1982), lot 1304; Auction '86 (RARCOA, 7/1986), lot 597; August Sale (Mid-American Rare Coin, 8/1987), lot 332; The Stanley Simon Type Collection of United States Coins (Stack's, 1/1989), lot 432. In the roster developed by Bowers and Merena catalogers in their July 2002 Rarities Sale of the Eliasberg-Kern specimen (number 2 above), they pedigree the present Kaufman-Robison coin to a "Connecticut family, circa 1940s. Discovered by Oscar G. Schilke; a complete silver and copper Proof set of the year 1842 came to light in a dresser drawer in Connecticut." This note, written by Q. David Bowers, is based on his recollections including his involvement with the Century Sale, and his personal acquaintance with Schilke.
4. PR63. The Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 3/1988), lot 1572; Somerset Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1992), lot 1179.
5. Brilliant Proof. James A. Stack Collection (Stack's, 3/1975), lot 55; 1978 ANA Sale (Bowers and Ruddy, 8/1978), lot 731; Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 10/1993), lot 389.
6. Proof. American Numismatic Society Collection.
7. Proof. Smithsonian Institution.

The Kaufman coin displays a couple of pedigree markers that enabled us to establish its provenance. One is a tiny spot below the left base of the rock, at about 7:30 near the rim, and the other is a faint linear planchet defect that extends from the right bottom serif of the right upright of the M in AMERICA into the field above the eagle's left (right facing) wing.
This near-Gem is essentially brilliant, save for an occasional whisper of barely discernible light tan-gray patina. A well-executed strike leaves uniformly sharp definition on the design elements, which further accentuates the cameo contrast between the satiny motifs and the deeply mirrored fields. The surfaces are devoid of mentionable abrasions. It is only the presence of a few faint hairlines in the fields that keep this delightful specimen from attaining Gem status.
From The Phil Kaufman Collection of Early Seated Proof Sets, Part Three.(Registry values: P6) (#5536)

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