1839 25C No Drapery MS(PCGS#5392)

The November 2010 Baltimore Auction

Auctioneer

Bowers & Merena

Lot Number

1685

Grade

MS62

Price

3,450

Lot Description

1839 Seated Liberty Quarter. No Drapery. Briggs 4-C. Very Long Claws. MS-62 (NGC). This is the highly elusive Very Long Claws reverse hub variety of the 1839 Seated Quarter, of which Larry Briggs (<em>The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of United States Liberty Seated Quarters</em>, 1991) writes:<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;RARITY: Unknown, Only one example discovered in December, 1989 by Harry Smith.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;COMMENTS: Presently extremely rare. Time will tell true rarity as more people search for open/closed claw reverses.<br /> <br /> The discovery specimen seems to be the plate coin on page 21 of Briggs' book, and it is a well-worn Fine. The coin we offer here is the only Mint State example of the hub variety of which we are aware, and it is probably the finest-known survivor of the 1839 Briggs 4-C type. Satin-to-semi-prooflike in sheen, both sides are essentially untoned. An otherwise bold strike wanes appreciable only over the eagle's left (facing) leg on the reverse, and grade-defining abrasions do not include any sizeable or otherwise individually mentionable distractions. A very important bidding opportunity for the Seated Quarter variety specialist.