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In 1840, the Coronet Quarter Eagle was
released. The Coronet type, also called Liberty Head by many numismatists, was
to become the enduring workhorse of US gold coinage. It was produced every year
until 1907, during which time the United States matured from a rowdy frontier
nation to the brink of world superpower.
Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht first unveiled his Coronet design in 1838 on the new $10 gold eagle. The $5 half eagle and
$2.50 quarter eagle were updated to match the Coronet style, in keeping with the
Mint policy of uniformity across gold coinage face values.
The Coronet design featured Miss Liberty facing left, wearing a small crown, or
coronet, inscribed with the word LIBERTY. The thirteen stars around the edge
represent the original American colonies. The reverse is dominated by an eagle
with a shield covering its chest and greatly resembles the work of former
Engraver John Reich, first released in 1807. The eagle carries an olive branch
and three arrows to symbolize both peace and military readiness.
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Coronet
Quarter Eagle
Specifications |
Diameter: |
Weight: |
Minted: |
Composition: |
Designer |
Edge: |
18.00 mm |
4.18 g |
1840-1907 |
.900
Au .100 Cu |
Christian Gobrecht |
Reeded |
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Coin Photos courtesy of
Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA. |
One of the most famous Coronet Quarter Eagles is the 1848 "CAL." specimen. This
coin was minted from a special shipment of gold sent from California to the east
coast just months following the fabulous gold strike. The letters “CAL.” were
counter stamped on the reverse above the eagle by Mint officials to show that
they were coined out of gold originating from the California gold fields. Only
1389 of these quarter eagles were produced. One of the finest known examples of
the CAL. quarter eagle was sold for $322,000 in August 2006. As one might
suspect, many forgeries of this historically significant rarity are around.
Even scarcer than the 1848 CAL. is the 1841. Believed to be issued only in Proof
condition (there is some controversy here), the exact mintage is unknown, but it
is most certainly a microscopic quantity, perhaps no more than 20. Collectors
have affectionately labeled this highly elusive rarity the “Little Princess”. It
has been many years since a “Little Princess” example has publicly traded hands.
The 1854-S is another legendary rarity. Only 246 of them were made at the San
Francisco branch mint during its first year of operation. It is the lowest
mintage of any quarter eagle intended for circulation. An 1854-S graded as XF-45
sold for $345,000 in February 2007.
Not all of the key date Coronet Quarter eagles are out of sight, however.
Anything from either the Charlotte or Dahlonega mints will always excite serious
collectors, and are well worth their cost. Also, some of the lowest mintages recorded
in the 68 year run of the Coronet Quarter Eagles are with the 1864, 1865, and
1875 editions. Surprisingly, this trio has been stagnant the last 15 years
or so, defying their stellar growth patterns of previous decades. Perhaps
they are overdue for some powerful upward adjustments.
You may be setting yourself up for a big disappointment if you try to buy key date
Coronet Quarter Eagles that have not been certified by one of the four leading
grading service companies: PCGS, NGC, ICG, or ANACS. Most collectors have
some degree of confidence in coins graded by any of the Big Four, and are
willing to write bigger checks accordingly, should you decide to sell.
Conversely, many would-be buyers are cool to coins passed through lesser known
services, because all to often, these outfits have demonstrated much less
stringent standards in grading. Then too, there are "grading" outlets
operating as fronts to pass off "rare coins" that are fake or altered.
The links below initiate a search of eBay coin auctions to find key date
Coronet Quarter Eagles.
The left hand side of each "Sales Box" depicts value trends over a very long
period of time for the specified key date in F-12 condition. The
percent annual increase since 1950 is computed for comparative purposes.
In the case of Charlotte and Dahlonega coins, value trends of a specific date
are reported to represent the group. Key date Coronet Quarter Eagles are
tough to come by, even in a universe as large as eBay gold coin auctions.
Don't be surprised if much of the time, you come up empty handed. Keep
checking back, and remember, be patient and follow the advice on grading. The coin pictured
for sale in the right hand side, if any, is not necessarily the same condition coin
as that represented in the value trend analysis on left hand side.
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1846-C
Coronet QE
Condition: F-12
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1846-D
Coronet QE
Condition: F-12
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Value Trends
1950: $15.00
1980: $375
1995: $550
2003: $1000
2007: $1250
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Value Trends
1950: $11.00
1980: $300
1995: $450
2003: $750
2007: $1300
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
8.07%
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
8.73%
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1864
Coronet QE
Condition: F-12
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1865
Coronet QE
Condition: F-12
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Value Trends
1950: $50.00
1980: $450
1995: $2750
2003: $2750
2007: $2750
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Value Trends
1950: $50.00
1980: $450
1995: $2250
2003: $2250
2007: $2250
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
7.28%
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% Annual Increase
Since 1950 =
6.91%
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Half Cents
1793-1857 |
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Large Cents
1793-1857 |
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Flying Eagle Cents
1856-1858 |
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Indian Head Cents
1859-1909 |
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Lincoln Cents
1909-present |
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Two and Three
Cents 1851-1889 |
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Shield Nickels
1866-1883 |
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Liberty Nickels
1883-1913 |
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Buffalo Nickels
1913-1938 |
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Jefferson Nickels 1938-present |
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Early Half Dimes
1792-1837 |
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Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873 |
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Early Dimes
1796-1837 |
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Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891 |
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Barber Dimes
1892-1916 |
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Mercury Dimes
1916-1945 |
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Roosevelt Dimes 1946-present |
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Twenty Cents
1875-1878 |
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Early Quarters
1796-1838 |
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Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891 |
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Barber Quarters
1892-1916 |
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Standing Liberty
Quarters 1916-1930 |
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Washington
Quarters 1932-present |
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Early Half Dollars
1794-1839 |
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Seated Liberty
Half Dollars 1839-1891 |
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Barber Half
Dollars 1892-1915 |
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Walking Liberty
Half Dollars 1916-1947 |
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Franklin Half
Dollars 1948-1963 |
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Kennedy Half Dollars 1964-Present |
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Early Dollars
1794-1804 |
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Gobrecht Dollars 1836-1839 |
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Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873 |
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Trade Dollars
1873-1885 |
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Morgan Dollars
1878-1921 |
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Peace Dollars
1921-1935 |
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Eisenhower Dollars
1971-1978 |
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Anthony Dollars
1979-1981,1999 |
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Sacagawea Dollars
2000-present |
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Presidential Dollars
2007-present |
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Gold Dollars
1849-1889 |
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Early Quarter Eagles 1796-1834 |
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Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839 |
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Coronet Quarter
Eagles 1840-1907 |
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Indian Head
Quarter Eagles 1908-1929 |
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Three Dollar Gold
1854-1889 |
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Early Half Eagles
1795-1834 |
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Classic Head Half Eagles 1834-1838 |
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Coronet Half
Eagles 1839-1908 |
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Indian Head Half
Eagles 1908-1929 |
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Early Eagles
1795-1804 |
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Coronet Eagles
1838-1907 |
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Indian Head Eagles
1907-1933 |
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Coronet Double
Eagles 1849-1907 |
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St-Gaudens Double
Eagles 1907-1933 |
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In 1848 approximately 230 ounces of newly
mined gold from California was sent to the Philadelphia Mint, where it was
coined into quarter eagles. The lettering "CAL." was punched above the
eagle to distinguish the origin of the bullion. Only 1389 such coins
were produced. Today, a collector can expect to pay a minimum of
$15,000 for this important historical rarity. Serious buyers
absolutely should not consider anything that has not been certified by a
reputable grading service. Many fakes of this famous coin exist.
Coin Photos courtesy of
Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA. |
