Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Early Quarters
1796 25C B-2, R.3, AU58 NGC. Ex: Hilt Collection. Coinage at the United States Mint in 1796 was largely limited to copper denominations (primarily the cent), and those silver denominations requested by private depositors (mostly dollars). Quarter production saw its inaugural coinage in 1796, but the number of pieces struck was limited to just 6,146 coins, a direct reflection of the large numbers of intrinsically equal Spanish two reales pieces which dominated the economy from the colonial period. Moreover, the denomination would not be coined again until 1804.
Two die pairs were employed for production, consisting of a single reverse die paired to two different obverses. B-2 is by far the more often seen of the two, readily identified by the close proximity of the 6 in the date to the bust -- it is noticeably more distant on B-1. The generally accepted die pair sequence is B-2, then B-1, per die state evidence of the common reverse.
The present B-2 representative is in a very late stage of Steve Tompkins Die State 2/1, with the obverse lapped and showing a thin, radial crack from the E in LIBERTY down into the hair curls. The reverse is just beginning to crack at OF. Both sides exhibit distinct semiprooflike mirroring, an often seen characteristic on higher-grade examples of both varieties, with just a trace of friction evident over the highest points of the design. The eagle's head and the adjacent wreath leaves are weakly defined, as usual, but the strike is otherwise well-executed. Uniform sun-gold toning adds a degree of warmth to each side.
The 1796 is arguably the most sought-after single issue in the entire span of quarter dollar coinage at the United States Mint. It claims the ever-heralded status as the first issue of the denomination struck for regular production, and it also ranks as an important one-year Small Eagle type. Small quantities of high-grade pieces survive for the well-funded collector, but the low production total necessarily limits the overall availability of this issue, which heightens its value among competing collectors. The present piece will prove a stellar addition to a high-end early quarter collection.
1796 25C B-2, R.3, AU58 NGC. Ex: Hilt Collection. Coinage at the United States Mint in 1796 was largely limited to copper denominations (primarily the cent), and those silver denominations requested by private depositors (mostly dollars). Quarter production saw its inaugural coinage in 1796, but the number of pieces struck was limited to just 6,146 coins, a direct reflection of the large numbers of intrinsically equal Spanish two reales pieces which dominated the economy from the colonial period. Moreover, the denomination would not be coined again until 1804.
Two die pairs were employed for production, consisting of a single reverse die paired to two different obverses. B-2 is by far the more often seen of the two, readily identified by the close proximity of the 6 in the date to the bust -- it is noticeably more distant on B-1. The generally accepted die pair sequence is B-2, then B-1, per die state evidence of the common reverse.
The present B-2 representative is in a very late stage of Steve Tompkins Die State 2/1, with the obverse lapped and showing a thin, radial crack from the E in LIBERTY down into the hair curls. The reverse is just beginning to crack at OF. Both sides exhibit distinct semiprooflike mirroring, an often seen characteristic on higher-grade examples of both varieties, with just a trace of friction evident over the highest points of the design. The eagle's head and the adjacent wreath leaves are weakly defined, as usual, but the strike is otherwise well-executed. Uniform sun-gold toning adds a degree of warmth to each side.
The 1796 is arguably the most sought-after single issue in the entire span of quarter dollar coinage at the United States Mint. It claims the ever-heralded status as the first issue of the denomination struck for regular production, and it also ranks as an important one-year Small Eagle type. Small quantities of high-grade pieces survive for the well-funded collector, but the low production total necessarily limits the overall availability of this issue, which heightens its value among competing collectors. The present piece will prove a stellar addition to a high-end early quarter collection.