1820 25C Large 0 MS(PCGS#5329)

June 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2105

Grade

MS64

Price

18,300

Lot Description

Tompkins Die Stage 1/1, Rea et al. Die State P. Truly stunning Choice Mint State quality for both the type and date, and a particularly important coin for early quarter specialists as a newly confirmed Condition Census example of the scarce 1820 Browning-1 dies. With richly original toning on overall smooth, lustrous and softly frosted surfaces, CAC approval for this coin in its PCGS MS-64 holder was virtually guaranteed. Rich pewter-mauve patina gives way to even bolder charcoal-olive around the design elements. Both sides are well centered within fully denticulated borders, the high points of Liberty's hair and the eagle's head and talons displaying the often-seen softness for the type, but the detail otherwise sharp and the in-hand appearance impressively bold. No marks or other blemishes of even a trivial nature are evident on carefully preserved surfaces.<p>The 1820 is the fourth date in the Capped Bust quarter series designed by John Reich. The mintage for that calendar year is 127,444 pieces, although we have no way of knowing whether or not that total corresponds to the mintage from 1820-dated dies. The early United States Mint often used dies randomly and until they broke irretrievably without regard for year of issue, as high quality steel for making dies was in short supply. With five die marriages known and examples among the more available Large Diameter Capped Bust quarters, some 1820-dated examples were likely also included in the reported delivery of 216,851 quarters achieved in 1821.<p>Browning-1 is the second scarcest attribution of this issue, following the B-5 Small 0. The Eliasberg-Pogue specimen in PCGS MS-66 is the finest known 1820 B-1 quarter in circulation strike format. The only other confirmed Mint State example in both the 2008 Tompkins and 2010 Rea et al. censuses is the Tompkins plate, NGC MS-64, that most recently appeared in Heritage's January 2023 FUN Signature Auction. Since publication of those rosters PCGS has certified an MS-63+, and our February 2026 sale of the Dean Oakes Family Collection first brought this PCGS/CAC MS-64 to market. Comfortably ranked as CC#2 behind the Eliasberg-Pogue specimen, the Dean Oakes Family coin will impress both early quarter variety specialists and advanced type collectors. We expect spirited bidding that results in a strong price as this coin transitions into another world-class numismatic cabinet.