Description
$2.50 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle MS-61 Coin
NGC
It’s the U.S. coin that’s seen more history than any other: the $2.50 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle MS61. From the tumult of the civil war years to the wildness of the western frontier, this coin was there; and it could be yours. Who knows which pioneering homesteader, cowboy or gunslinger has held it before you? Make it yours today and have an indelible link to the days of yesteryear. The $2.50 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle has the longest uninterrupted use of any coin design in American history, and it’s still cherished today. So add this piece from a random year, with a mint state of 61 to your collection. This is a gold coin of which you can be proud.
The obverse design shows a classically inspired profile portrait of Liberty, surrounded by 13 stars representing the original colonies of the Union. Lady Liberty wears a coronet which is inscribed with the word LIBERTY and her hair is held up at the back and adorned with a string of pearls – so you can see why this coin is often referred to as the Coronet Quarter Eagle. A few curls have escaped, from Liberty’s updo, cascading down her neck and framing her face, while the year of issue is placed below Liberty’s portrait.
The reverse design shows an eagle along with a shield, decorated with stripes. The eagle looks to the left of the coin and has its wings outstretched. This majestic eagle holds three arrows in its left talons and an olive branch in its right talons, representing America’s ability to defend itself and peace, respectively. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surround the majority of the reverse design, leaving room for the value written in a shortened form as 2 1/2 D. It’s a design that owes much to the Great Seal of the United States, though we don’t see the famous motto here. The design of the coin is completed with a reeded edge. It’s a design that bears a close resemblance to the $5 half eagle and $10 eagle of the time, making a coherent set of coinage.
The coin’s design is the work of Christian Gobrecht, whose life story reads like a textbook example of the American dream. For, having started work as an apprentice, Gobrecht made it to the topmost reaches of his profession, as the Third Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. Gobrecht developed his engraving skills working on ornamental clocks, followed by bank notes at the firm of Murray, Draper, Fairman and Company, from 1816. It was during this time that Gobrecht’s work first caught the attention of U.S. Mint. Gobrecht rejected the offer of the post as Assistant Director of the U.S. Mint. However, in 1835 he became the Second Engraver, before progressing to Chief Engraver in 1840.
Liberty Gold Quarter Eagles were produced from 1840 to 1907 and struck at five branches of the U.S Mint including Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, Charlotte and Dahlonega. Where a mint mark exists, it will be stamped just below the eagle on the reverse side, though those from Philadelphia carry no such mark. Given its 67 year history and the different mints producing the coin, there are around 150 different issues of the Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle, so improve your collection with this mint state coin today.
$2.50 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagles were struck with a weight of 4.18 grams and a diameter of 18 millimeter. They’re composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. Add this precious pre-1933 gold coin to your collection today – it’s a keeper.
MS61
Random year of issue
Face value $2.50
Liberty head quarter eagle
Coronet quarter eagle
Designer: Christian Gobrecht
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