1854-D $2 1/2 MS64 NGC. Variety 18-N. ...

Description

1854-D Variety 18-N Quarter Eagle, MS64
From the Duke's Creek Collection
The Finest Known

1854-D $2 1/2 MS64 NGC. Variety 18-N. Ex: Dukes Creek. This is the only variety of 1854-D quarter eagles, a die pair that produced 1,760 examples of this rare issue. The top of the 1 is merged with the bust on this obverse that shows myriad diagonal die lines from the dentils below the date and at star 13. The reverse has a bold mintmark that is merged with the olive branch, overlapping the arrow feather.

This Choice Mint State example is the finest known 1854-D quarter eagle, and heads the NGC and PCGS combined census that includes five coins graded MS61, and one each certified as MS62 and MS63. Winthrop Carner, a dealer specializing in gold coins, discovered this example at a small Georgia coin show in 1996.

The strike is extremely sharp for the date, with all of the details displaying above average clarity with the exception of BE in LIBERTY and the corresponding area on the reverse. The denticles on both sides show some weakness, which is diagnostic for the issue. The surfaces are extremely clean, with just a small Mint-made planchet defect on the jaw of Liberty worthy of mention. The luster is frosted, and there is a slightly prooflike finish in the fields, which is far different from the typical dull, granular texture usually seen on this issue. Both sides glow with medium green-gold color, and this coloration appears to be original and untampered with. The eye appeal of this coin is truly exceptional for the date.

While the rarity of the 1854-D has been exaggerated in the past, it is clearly a rarer coin than its more famous counterpart, the 1854-D three dollar gold piece. Less than 90 of the quarter eagles are known, with a dozen or so properly graded AU coins and another six or seven in Mint State grades.
Ex: Winthrop Carner; Paul Nugget/Spectrum Numismatics; William Miller Collection; Heritage (2/1999), lot 6177, where it brought $63,250; Duke's Creek Collection; Heritage (4/2006), lot 1511, where it brought $80,500; Ohio Collection.
From The Barry F. Smith Collection. (Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25HZ, PCGS# 7771, Greysheet# 8373)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 4.18 grams
AGW: 0.13oz
Mintage: 1,760

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.

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