1804 25C MS(PCGS#5312)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4207

Grade

VF20

Price

16,800

Lot Description

Tompkins Die Stage 1/1, Rea et al. Die State P. This visually pleasing mid grade example exhibits predominantly light silver gray surfaces with iridescent champagne-apricot toning engaging many of the devices, particularly on the reverse. Lightly cleaned ages ago, but the retoning is natural, and faint traces of softly frosted luster persist to reward the viewer aided by direct lighting. Boldly defined overall, as well, a lack of sizeable or otherwise individually distracting marks further enhances this coin's appearance.<p>Browning-2 is a rarer die pairing, examples much more elusive than those of its 1804 B-1 counterpart. The two varieties share the same reverse die (which also appears in the 1805 B-1), but the obverses are easily distinguished. On B-2 coins, as here, the digit 4 in the date is high and nearly touches the base of Liberty's bust, and there is no die mark in between stars 8 and 9. This is also a conditionally challenged variety with the vast majority of examples in the lowest circulated grades through VG. Only a single Mint State specimen is known; a second listed as MS-60 in the 2010 Rea et al. census has apparently not been certified or otherwise confirmed in the modern numismatic market. As such, the Condition Census listing for the 1804 B-2 descends rapidly down to the middle circulated grades, with the coin offered here tied for CC#5 in the 2008 Tompkins census. It is not included in the Rea et al. census, but if it were, it would be tied for CC#8. This is clearly an important specimen that will see spirited bidding from advanced early quarter variety enthusiasts.<p><strong>Steve M. Tompkins Commentary:</strong> I had to wait 17 years to have the chance to own this coin after losing out in the previous 1999 sale. I owned several low grade examples over the years, but yearned to put a higher grade example in my collection. The 1804 B-2 comes very weakly struck on the obverse and subsequently the wear is never the same on both sides. If one used only the reverse to determine the grade, the above coin would grade much higher!