1894 $2.50 PR(PCGS#7920)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

8039

Grade

PR58

Price

2,880

Lot Description

A mintage of 122 pieces for the 1894 represents a slight increase over the previous year in the total number of Proof quarter eagles struck. In keeping with the standards of this classic U.S. Mint gold series, of course, the Proof 1894 is a rare issue in an absolute sense with fewer than 100 coins believed extant in all grades. Estimates on the exact number of survivors are fairly tight between numismatic references, with Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth (2008) providing a figure of 50 to 70 coins, <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> allowing for 60 to 80 pieces, and John W. Dannreuther (2018) estimating 60 to 70 known. A fair number of the survivors are impaired due to having been placed into circulation or otherwise mishandled by earlier generations of collectors. Unlike most such pieces, however, that offered here not only survived, but it retains unmistakable Proof qualities to both the strike and finish. Bright wheat-gold color with no sizeable or otherwise singularly distracting marks.