1806/5 25C B-1, R.2, MS64 PCGS Secure....

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1806/5 Quarter, B-1, MS64
Ex: Randall, Garrett, Gardner
Provenance Extending Back 131 Years

1806/5 25C B-1, R.2, MS64 PCGS Secure. The sole dies employed for the 1806/5 overdate. Graded MS65 in 1980 and certified MS64 today, this beautiful 1806/5 quarter displays exquisitely preserved lustrous satin surfaces graced by warm gray, gold, and lilac iridescent toning. The design elements are well-detailed, the undertype 5 clearly visible below the primary digit. As Q. David Bowers stated in the Garrett catalog, "In today's era of 'dipped' and 'cleaned' issues, such specimens as this from the previous century [now two centuries] with beautiful original toning are to be prized."

Ten die varieties are known for this date, but only the present B-1 variety employs the overdated obverse from 1805. The 1806/5 quarter is one of the prominent "naked eye" overdates that are so popular with collectors today. It is an easily visible overdate that can be seen with no magnification.

Some experimentation took place in the engraving and coinage department of the Mint during 1806. Seldom do overdates of any era originate with dies that were actually used in previous years. Nearly all overdates, especially in the early years of our coinage, resulted from dies engraved in previous years but unused. It is believed that dies actually used became "work hardened" and brittle and were unable to be successfully altered in the Mint. Such dies remained in use until they wore out, producing backdated coinage that now renders original Mint coinage records almost obsolete.

However, 1806/5 overdates are known for quarters, half dollars, and quarter eagles. In each of these three instances, the previous dies dated 1805 were actually used during the year, then altered by Mint engravers after the beginning of the new year. In the case of the quarter dollar, the obverse and reverse are each struck from the dies previously used to coin the 1805 B-4 variety.

The present coin is a spectacular specimen that occupies the number one position in Steve Tompkins' Condition Census and the number three spot in the Rea-Koenings-Haroutunian Condition Census. Tracing its history to the fabled Garrett Collection and to Gene Gardner afterward, this coin has been prized by the most advanced collectors for more than a century. Series specialists should bid accordingly. PCGS has graded three examples of the 1806/5 in MS64, one in MS64+, and three finer. NGC has graded two in MS64 and two finer (1/16).
Ex: John Colvin Randall Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 6/1885), lot 551; T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett, John Work Garrett, John Hopkins University; Garrett Collection, Part II (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1980), lot 625; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2008), lot 341; Gene Gardner; Gardner Collection, Part I (Heritage, 6/2014), lot 30346.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 23RE, Variety PCGS# 38938, Base PCGS# 5315, Greysheet# 212680)

Weight: 6.74 grams

Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS