ORIGINAL GEM 1818 QUARTER

Browning 2 ~ Star 1 close to drapery and points to lower fold, star 13 repunched down and left at two lowest points. Rarity 1. Later die state with obverse die cracks in the upper field to stars 8-9-10, joining a prominent die crack from the rim down through star 10. Fine reverse die crack from the lower rim through the lowest arrowhead, two arrow shafts, and into the field above.

Fully struck with sharp stars, finely detailed hair, and all of the eagle's feathers in bold relief. The surfaces are exceptionally clean with a few small reverse marks above the eagle's head the most notable. Richly toned, the obverse is semi-prooflike and exhibits a burst of vivid blue, green, gold, amber and violet when turned into a light. The reverse is more frosty in texture, with colors that tend more toward blue, violet and olive.

This is certainly the most commonly encountered Large Size Capped Bust 25c in Gem Mint State, with PCGS reporting 21 graded MS65, four MS66, and the Eliasberg MS67 at the top spot.

Provenance:

• (Heritage ANA 2007, 82007: lot 1651 @ $46,000 as NGC MS66)
• (Heritage FUN 2009, 1/2009: lot 3721 @ $21,850 as NGC MS66)
• Private Collection, O'Connor Numismatics