Quarter Eagle -> 1860-C

Vitae

  • Quarter Eagles 1838 - 1860
  • Liberty Head 1840 - 1860
  • Diameter: 18.2 millimeters
  • Fineness: .900
  • Weight: 64.5 grains
  • Designer: Christian Gobrecht
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Coiner: John R. Bolton

The production of Charlotte quarter eagles ended in 1860. The 1860-C has an unusual appearance. The obverse is often much better struck than the reverse. In addition, many show mint-made roughness on the reverse including patches of die rust. This is due to the fact that the reverse was left-over from 1858 and it had been improperly stored. Surprisingly, higher grade examples show good luster and often have very pleasing light to medium yellow-gold color. Just 85-95 are known with approximately three-quarters of these grading Extremely Fine or lower. There are 18-20 1860-C quarter eagles currently accounted for as well as three in Mint State.

Condition Census

  1. Private Collection, ex Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, Heritage Numismatic Auctions 10/93: 501, various dealer intermediaries. Graded MS-63 by NGC. This coin was first offered for sale in an auction in Maine. It had been graded AU-55 by ANACS.
  2. Lee Minshull inventory, 12/98, ex Tangible Investments of America (Sil di Genova), Sotheby's 7/29/97: 224. Later graded MS-62 by NGC.
  3. Paul Dingler collection, ex Winthrop Carner, AUCTION USA 8/13/91: 282. Graded MS-60 by PCGS. The coin illustrated in this web site.
  4. North Georgia collection, ex Stack's 12/94: 1396, R.T. Wilder collection. Later graded AU-58 by PCGS.
  5. Bowers and Merena 5/94: 1378. Graded AU-58 by PCGS.