A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF-35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, July 31-Aug. 2, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Beverly Hills.
“This coin is truly a legendary rarity,” said Greg Rohan, Heritage president, “and one of just a dozen known survivors from the first quarter eagle issue produced by the San Francisco Mint. In Heritage’s in-house condition census of the surviving 12, this example is rated fifth overall.”
Just 246 examples of the 1854-S quarter eagle were struck since the San Francisco Mint focused on making larger denominations such as the eagle and double eagle, and the relative “small change” denomination of the gold dollar, leaving the quarter eagle and half eagle relatively neglected. Despite the tiny mintage for the 1854-S quarter eagle, the coins that were produced found ready acceptance in California commerce; virtually the entire mintage was lost through attrition.
Every known 1854-S quarter eagle shows evidence of circulation, whether slight or extreme. The Choice VF example Heritage is offering exhibits moderate wear, but the surfaces show few of the usual marks that coins accrue while circulating and its eye appeal is remarkably strong.
“For decades, the 1854-S quarter eagle has been an underrated rarity,” Rohan said, “but a select cadre of collectors has long coveted the issue, and recent years have brought greater awareness of and appreciation for this emblem of the California Gold Rush.”
Close on the heels of the 1854-S quarter eagle is a 1795 half eagle, Small Eagle reverse, S over D, BD-6, MS65 Prooflike NGC example that is sure to be on the want-list of many top collectors.
“A precious few 1795 half eagles were saved as first-of-their-kind pieces, this Gem among them,” Rohan said, “but few 18th century U.S. coins offer the incredible luster and reflectivity this piece possesses.”
This coin is of the BD-6 die variety, well known for a reverse blunder that shows the word “STATES” originally punched as “STATED,” and then corrected. The variety is itself rare, which makes the survival of a Gem specimen even more remarkable.
Coming on the heels of Heritage’s record-setting offering of the SP63 1856-O double eagle in the May 2009 Long Beach Signature U.S. Coin Auction, an 1856-O double eagle AU-58 NGC specimen will be offered in the Los Angeles event.
This coin is tied for the finest regular-issue 1856-O double eagle certified and is a famously rare Southern gold issue surviving from an original mintage of only 2,250 pieces. Its survival rate is estimated at about 1 percent including all grades. The near-Mint example offered in Los Angeles is among the very finest, with strong lemon-yellow luster and great eye appeal.
All Stellas, or four dollar gold patterns, enjoy high popularity, but the extremely rare 1880-dated pieces with the George T. Morgan Coiled Hair design are among the most prized, especially the Judd-1660 variety, which was struck in gold. The Heritage census for the issue shows just nine distinct specimens – including the one in this auction, graded PR62 NGC – pedigreed to famous collectors including both the senior and junior Amon G. Carter.
For more information on the Los Angeles auction, to read detailed descriptions of these, and any other lots, and to download full-color, enlargeable images, go online to www.HA.com/1128.
To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by e-mail.
