Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Bust Quarters
1831 25C Small Letters, B-2, R.2, MS66+ PCGS. No Capped Bust quarters were struck in 1829 and 1830, setting the stage for a fairly substantial mintage of 398,000 pieces in 1831. Because of the introduction of the close collar, the Mint used smaller-diameter planchets for the quarters in 1831, with a redesigned portrait by Chief Engraver William Kneass and no motto on the reverse. Seven die varieties are known for the date, four with small letters in the reverse legend and three with large letters. This coin represents the popular B-2 variety, with the left edge of Liberty's curls over the right foot of the second 1 in the date and star 7 pointing between two curls on the obverse. The reverse is a Small Letters type, with a square base 2 in the denomination and a thin tongue in the eagle's mouth. The obverse die was used again to strike the B-3 variety of this date, but this was the only use of the reverse.
The 1831 Capped Bust quarter was a popular issue with early numismatists, and examples began appearing at auction as early as lot 331 of the A.C. Kline Sale (Moses Thomas & Sons, 6/1855). It is possible that the difference between the Small and Large Letters motifs was noticed as early as the Finotti Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 11/1862), where the cataloger notes two different varieties of 1831 quarters in lots 199 and 200, although he does not elaborate on the details. The difference in letter sizes was explicitly spelled out by variety specialist John Colvin Randall by the time his collection was sold through Woodward in June of 1885. Lots 580-582 of the Randall Collection are three different varieties of the 1831 Capped Bust quarter, two with Small Letters and one with Large Letters. Lot 582 appears to be a B-2 example:
"1831 No.3; reverse small letters, square 2 and without berries on the branch; brilliant, uncirculated, surface like proof."
The lot realized $1, a strong price at the time. More recent records include the MS67+ NGC, B-2 specimen from the Eric Newman Collection, which sold in a Heritage auction for $117,500 in November of 2013.
This Plus-graded Premium Gem was struck from a fairly early state of the dies. The obverse still shows slight recutting on stars 11-13. The reverse shows the crack from the top of UNITED STATES into the field, but the corresponding crack through RICA and the arrow heads has not developed. The design elements are sharply detailed in most areas, with just a touch of the usual softness on star 13 and the denomination. The impeccably preserved surfaces are enhanced by vivid shades of violet and pale gold toning, with vibrant mint luster throughout. The terrific eye appeal is a match for the high technical quality. This coin is the single-finest example at PCGS, by virtue of its Plus designation. We expect intense competition from series specialists and Registry Set enthusiasts when this lot is called. Population: 1 in 66+, 0 finer (11/16).
1831 25C Small Letters, B-2, R.2, MS66+ PCGS. No Capped Bust quarters were struck in 1829 and 1830, setting the stage for a fairly substantial mintage of 398,000 pieces in 1831. Because of the introduction of the close collar, the Mint used smaller-diameter planchets for the quarters in 1831, with a redesigned portrait by Chief Engraver William Kneass and no motto on the reverse. Seven die varieties are known for the date, four with small letters in the reverse legend and three with large letters. This coin represents the popular B-2 variety, with the left edge of Liberty's curls over the right foot of the second 1 in the date and star 7 pointing between two curls on the obverse. The reverse is a Small Letters type, with a square base 2 in the denomination and a thin tongue in the eagle's mouth. The obverse die was used again to strike the B-3 variety of this date, but this was the only use of the reverse.
The 1831 Capped Bust quarter was a popular issue with early numismatists, and examples began appearing at auction as early as lot 331 of the A.C. Kline Sale (Moses Thomas & Sons, 6/1855). It is possible that the difference between the Small and Large Letters motifs was noticed as early as the Finotti Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 11/1862), where the cataloger notes two different varieties of 1831 quarters in lots 199 and 200, although he does not elaborate on the details. The difference in letter sizes was explicitly spelled out by variety specialist John Colvin Randall by the time his collection was sold through Woodward in June of 1885. Lots 580-582 of the Randall Collection are three different varieties of the 1831 Capped Bust quarter, two with Small Letters and one with Large Letters. Lot 582 appears to be a B-2 example:
"1831 No.3; reverse small letters, square 2 and without berries on the branch; brilliant, uncirculated, surface like proof."
The lot realized $1, a strong price at the time. More recent records include the MS67+ NGC, B-2 specimen from the Eric Newman Collection, which sold in a Heritage auction for $117,500 in November of 2013.
This Plus-graded Premium Gem was struck from a fairly early state of the dies. The obverse still shows slight recutting on stars 11-13. The reverse shows the crack from the top of UNITED STATES into the field, but the corresponding crack through RICA and the arrow heads has not developed. The design elements are sharply detailed in most areas, with just a touch of the usual softness on star 13 and the denomination. The impeccably preserved surfaces are enhanced by vivid shades of violet and pale gold toning, with vibrant mint luster throughout. The terrific eye appeal is a match for the high technical quality. This coin is the single-finest example at PCGS, by virtue of its Plus designation. We expect intense competition from series specialists and Registry Set enthusiasts when this lot is called. Population: 1 in 66+, 0 finer (11/16).