1866 25C Motto MS(PCGS#5468)

June 2018 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1319

Grade

MS65

Price

8,100

Lot Description

1866 Liberty Seated Quarter. Briggs 1-A. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. This brilliant satin white quarter ranks in the Condition Census for this elusive issue. Most circulation strike 1866 quarters are softly struck on the reverse along the left shield border, although on the present example this feature is minor. Overall boldly defined, in fact, it has a smooth satin texture that befits the full Gem rating. A popular issue with collectors, the 1866 is the first Philadelphia Mint Liberty Seated quarter of the Motto design type. It is also scarce in an absolute sense, with a mintage of 16,800 circulation strikes due to the fact that silver had still not returned to circulation in the East and Midwest despite the fact that the Civil War had ended to year before. Mint State examples are particularly elusive and merit a Rarity-5+ rating (per Larry Briggs, 1991). This is one of the finest coins known to PCGS, and it belongs in an advanced collection. Provenance: From the Beasley Collection. PCGS Population: 5; 3 finer (MS-66 finest). PCGS# 5468. NGC ID: 23UB. Click here for certification details from PCGS.