Vital Stats.
Designer: William Kneass
Content: 90% gold 10% other
Diameter: 17.5 millimeters
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 4.18 grams
Mint Mark Location: On the obverse above the date.
Date/
Mint Mark | Circulation
Strikes |
| 1834 | 112,234 |
| 1835 | 131,402 |
| 1836 | 547,986 |
| 1837 | 45,080 |
| 1838 | 47,030 |
| 1838-C | 7,880 |
| 1839 | 27,021 |
| 1839-C | 18,140 |
| 1839-D | 13,674 |
| 1839-O | 17,781 |
|
In 1831, according to National Archive records, some 40,000 US half eagles were
melted down in Paris for their gold content. Congress responded to this by passing
the Act of June 28, 1834 which reduced the gold content of the quarter eagle by
0.19 grams. This was enough to make it unprofitable to melt down gold coins.
Typical
Classic Head 1/4 Eagle
When William Kneass redesigned the quarter eagle, he opted for a earlier design
that had been used on the cent and half cent in the early part of the century. The
design was heavily criticized saying the new design was "neither as complex in detail
nor as refined in execution" as the preceding design. The new design was also described
as being genderless, the hairdo and fillet (the narrow headband) were more appropriate
for ancient Greek male athletes.
Prices are reasonably uniform for all dates. The price for most dates up to AU55
are modest, up to near-Gem they are expensive, and very expensive at Gem and higher.
Quarter eagles minted at Charlotte and Dahlonega are usually priced higher than
Philadelphia and, to a lesser extent, New Orleans. All proofs are very expensive
to PR62, and extremely expensive as PR63 and finer.
|
