1808 $2 1/2

Description

Rare, One-Year Type 1808 Quarter Eagle, Mint State

1808 $2 1/2 MS 61 NGC. The rarity of the 1808 quarter eagle is well known even to those who don't necessarily collect gold type coins. Struck in just this one year, only 2,710 pieces were minted and of that number it has been estimated that fewer than 2% exist today in all grades, with 35-40 pieces being a reasonable estimate of the surviving specimens. Breen speculates that the low survival rate may be due to the weak borders on all known coins which exposed them to undue wear. Every 1808 quarter eagle we have seen has had rim problems of some sort, probably due to the lack of raised detail evident around the margins.
When located, the typical 1808 is usually VF-XF with AU pieces quite rare and desirable. Only a handful of strictly Mint State quarter eagles from this year exist today. This piece is typically struck on the reverse with some weakness evident on the tips of the eagle's wings. On the obverse, the stars on the left side are quite well defined, but those on the right side are weak, as usual. Lightly abraded, the most notable identifiers for pedigree purposes are two strike-throughs: one is straight and close to the O in OF, the other has a backward S-shape and is located to the left of AM in AMERICA. A pleasing, reddish tinted example of this major gold rarity. Population: 9 in 61, 4 finer (3/01).
From the Dr. Robert W. Dingle Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 7660, GSID# 8217)

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 4.37 grams
AGW: 0.1288oz
Mintage: 2,710

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

View Certification Details from NGC