- More
1839 25C No Drapery MS66+ PCGS. CAC. Briggs 2-B....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
1839 No Drapery Quarter, Glowing MS66+
Sole Finest Certified of the Issue
1839 25C No Drapery MS66+ PCGS. CAC. Briggs 2-B. The No
Drapery Seated quarter type was struck for only three years -- at
Philadelphia in 1838 and 1839, and in New Orleans for part of 1840.
The goal was to produce a United States Mint product that would
depart from the aridity of previous designs on grounds of aesthetic
appeal and artistic merit. The Seated Liberty motif, as adapted by
Christian Gobrecht from drawings prepared by artist Thomas Sully,
proved to be a welcome improvement over the earlier William Kneass
designs, but Mint Director Robert M. Patterson soon saw room for
further improvement. In 1839, Patterson secured the services of
sculptor Robert B. Hughes to mildly remodel Gobrecht's Liberty.
Hughes' modifications, first seen on the working dies of 1840, were
thought to have increased the artistic merit of the portrait, most
noticeably by adding a flare of drapery to the space near Liberty's
right (facing) elbow. This With Drapery type was coined in one form
or another for the next half century.Modern collectors find superior artistic qualities in both designs, with many actually preferring the older No Drapery motif, partly due to its slightly more slender rendering of Liberty's figure. Of the three No Drapery issues, the 1838 and 1839 are the most often chosen for type purposes, as they are typically better struck than the similar New Orleans product of 1840. Of the two Philadelphia issues, the 1839 boasts the highest mintage (more than 491,000 coins), but is actually the scarcer coin in Mint State. Pieces grading MS61 to MS64 inclusive can be located with patience, but the certified population plummets dramatically at the Gem grade level, creating a significant challenge for the collector who must simply have nothing but the best.
This Plus-designated Premium Gem is a remarkable example of both the issue and the No Drapery type. Encapsulated by PCGS as MS66+ with a green CAC label confirming the high quality, it is the sole finest certified 1839 quarter, even if only by the margin of the Plus designation. There are two other MS66 coins reported at PCGS, but neither has received the Plus grade that sets this piece apart, and only a single MS65 coin trails; NGC contributes just one other MS66 piece (2/15). This makes of total of no more than five Gem or better 1839 No Drapery quarters certified, with the current coin being long-recognized as the sole finest.
Glowing luster proceeds from each side, highlighting the alternating areas of silver-white, lavender-gray, and copper-gold color that create intense eye appeal. Well-struck surfaces are noticeably free of even the smallest impairments. A few obverse stars are a trifle soft, but the remaining design elements are generally well brought up, further contributing to the visual quality. This high-end Premium Gem should certainly perform quite well at auction, given both its technical and aesthetic credentials as one of the finest No Drapery type coins available to collectors.(Registry values: P5)
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 23SF, PCGS# 5392)
Weight: 6.68 grams
Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Learn more at the Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University in St. Louis.
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
17.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping Sales Tax information | PCGS Guarantee of Grade and Authenticity
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Coin Grading Tutorial
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)Historical
Ends on 03/01/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 03/01/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/01/2021
Currency
Ends on 03/01/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/03/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/04/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 03/05/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/08/2021
Photography
Ends on 03/10/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Fine & Rare Wine
Ends on 03/12/2021
Western & Texas Art
Ends on 03/12/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/13/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/15/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/16/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/17/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/17/2021
Nature & Science
Ends on 03/19/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/21/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/25/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/25/2021
Sports Collectibles
Opens about 03/04/2021
Luxury Real Estate
Opens about 01/22/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/03/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 03/08/2021
Movie Posters
Opens about 03/05/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/12/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/07/2021
Currency
Opens about 03/08/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/17/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/19/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/18/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/08/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 02/24/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/19/2021
Musical Instruments
Opens about 03/23/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/23/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/24/2021
Currency
Opens about 03/26/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/16/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/26/2021
Historical
Opens about 03/29/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/21/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/02/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/02/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/31/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/01/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/28/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/06/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/08/2021
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
I found it reassuring that your appraisal of my coin was realistic.View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search