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1796 25C B-1, R.4, AU55 NGC....
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Description
1796 Quarter Dollar, Attractive AU55
Scarce B-1 Die Pair, 'Low 6' in Date
1796 25C B-1, R.4, AU55 NGC. Tompkins Die State 3/2. While
there was great need for a quarter dollar in commerce, that need
was largely supplied by Spanish American two reales pieces, which
circulated far and wide throughout the states. The Mint proceeded
cautiously in designing and striking the twenty five cent
denomination. A limited 1796 mintage was the result. The fact that
only 6,146 first-year quarters were struck went largely unnoticed
at the time, and few people cared that no more quarters were struck
until 1804. By then, the coins employed the Large Eagle reverse
design, making 1796 Small Eagle quarters especially popular with
today's collectors. The 1796 issue is a "must have" for date set
collectors as the only 1700s-dated quarter struck, as well as the
first year of issue. Collectors of Guide Book varieties need
one, and myriad type set specialists cannot ignore its status as a
one-year-only type coin by virtue of the Small Eagle reverse.Two varieties exist, which only adds to the demand. The B-1 variant -- with a Low 6 in the date -- is considerably rarer than its B-2 High 6 counterpart. B-2 coins outnumber the B-1 variety by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Interestingly, the Browning-1 die marriage was preceded by Browning-2 based on the reverse die wear observations, since both varieties share the same reverse die. A light die crack forms above S OF to confirm that B-1 was the second variety struck, although the present coin displays an intermediate die stage before formation of the die crack.
Small Eagle quarters are often weakly struck at the eagle's beak, which is true on this Choice About Uncirculated example. Likewise, some of Liberty's hair strands lack definition at the top of Liberty's head and below the ear -- a result of weak strike rather than wear. A number of vertically oriented reverse adjustment marks exist on this example, which further confirms the weak central strike. In 1796, such Mint-made production defects were commonplace, the result of overweight planchets being filed down by hand to standard weight before mintage.
Here, the peripheral strike is much sharper than the central impression. All but a few stars are fully formed, and the reverse legend is bold within a full complement of dentils. Eye appeal is exceptional thanks to a rich overlay of amber-gold, lilac-gray, and tangerine-orange toning that envelops both sides. Glints of mint luster remain beneath the attractive patina. One can hardly hope to find a more pleasing B-1 example for the assigned grade.
From The Gibney Family Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 23RA, Variety PCGS# 38919, Base PCGS# 5310, GSID# 212662)
Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
Weight: 6.74 grams
ASW: 0.19338oz
Mintage: 6,146
View all of [The Gibney Family Collection ]
Auction Info
2021 April 22 - 25 Central States US Coins Signature Auction #1329 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2021
22nd-25th
Thursday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 17
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,012
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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