1856-D $2.50 MS(PCGS#7779)

The May 2013 ANA National Money Show

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1267

Grade

AU55

Price

32,900

Lot Description

1856-D Liberty Quarter Eagle. AU-55 (NGC). A lovely Choice AU coin with pleasing satin luster and yellow-gold surfaces that do not show any readily noticeable marks or distractions. The obverse central design motifs are incomplete, along with the eagle's head , neck, leg feathers and arrow fletchings, as always seen on examples of the '56-D. Under magnification, only trivial nicks and superficial hairlines are found on either side of this scarce example. Some of the surfaces have an unusual, pebbly, rough texture that is also normal for this date and mint, and is not a result of coin doctoring. This Dahlonega Mint quarter eagle date had a tiny original mintage of only 874 pieces, one of the smallest in U.S. history for a non-Proof issue. Survivors are understandably rare at all grade levels, with just 45 to 55 coins currently known to exist.