Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Early Quarters
1805 25C B-1, R.4, MS65 PCGS. Tompkins Die State 2/2. We were pleasantly surprised to see this exceptional early quarter in the auction, not only for its stunning appearance, but also for the scarce variety. It is a Browning-1 specimen, definitively rare in Uncirculated grades and seldom seen as such. The B-1 variety trails only the B-5 in rarity among the five 1805 die pairings. The obverse is identified by the flag of the 5 touching the bust, with missing serifs on the bottom-left of both the 1 in the date and the T in LIBERTY. The reverse shows the C in 25 C positioned wide of the tail and clear of the stem -- the only 1805 die marriage with such positioning.
Further checking revealed an interesting sidenote in the Rea-Koenings-Haroutunian Census for the B-1 variety. The Census estimates the finest example as MS65 with the intriguing comment, "Heritage Numismatic Journal Fall-83 (MS65+ Not verified -- where is it today?)." The next-finest specimen in the Census is listed as an MS61 PCGS coin, and clearly the present example is far finer. Could the present coin be the long-missing finest B-1 coin? Only recently certified in the appropriate MS65 grade, we believe it is. No other example offered at auction over the past century was described as even coming close to the quality and eye appeal of the present representative. Vibrant and colorful as ever, the coin radiates eye appeal and flashy mint luster. No finer example of the B-1 1805 quarter is known, and this piece also ranks within the Condition Census for the entire 1805 date, thereby also presenting nearly unsurpassed appeal for date and type collectors. Truly, this is a magnificent Draped Bust quarter in every conceivable respect. Population (all varieties included): 2 in 65, 0 finer (11/16).
1805 25C B-1, R.4, MS65 PCGS. Tompkins Die State 2/2. We were pleasantly surprised to see this exceptional early quarter in the auction, not only for its stunning appearance, but also for the scarce variety. It is a Browning-1 specimen, definitively rare in Uncirculated grades and seldom seen as such. The B-1 variety trails only the B-5 in rarity among the five 1805 die pairings. The obverse is identified by the flag of the 5 touching the bust, with missing serifs on the bottom-left of both the 1 in the date and the T in LIBERTY. The reverse shows the C in 25 C positioned wide of the tail and clear of the stem -- the only 1805 die marriage with such positioning.
Further checking revealed an interesting sidenote in the Rea-Koenings-Haroutunian Census for the B-1 variety. The Census estimates the finest example as MS65 with the intriguing comment, "Heritage Numismatic Journal Fall-83 (MS65+ Not verified -- where is it today?)." The next-finest specimen in the Census is listed as an MS61 PCGS coin, and clearly the present example is far finer. Could the present coin be the long-missing finest B-1 coin? Only recently certified in the appropriate MS65 grade, we believe it is. No other example offered at auction over the past century was described as even coming close to the quality and eye appeal of the present representative. Vibrant and colorful as ever, the coin radiates eye appeal and flashy mint luster. No finer example of the B-1 1805 quarter is known, and this piece also ranks within the Condition Census for the entire 1805 date, thereby also presenting nearly unsurpassed appeal for date and type collectors. Truly, this is a magnificent Draped Bust quarter in every conceivable respect. Population (all varieties included): 2 in 65, 0 finer (11/16).