Lot 714
1797. PCGS graded AU-55. BD-1. Premium Quality. Well struck by the dies and with incredible eye appeal for this rarely seen issue. The surfaces are smooth and attractive, with prooflike fields on both sides. There are no adjustment marks apparent and the ever present die crack in the right obverse field is thin, confirming that this was likely one of the earlier coins struck of the 427 pieces produced to represent the year. The rarity of this issue is legendary. Roughly an equal to the 1796 with stars quarter eagle, with both of these issues recording a mintage of just over 400 pieces. Today about 25 to 29 of these 1797 quarter eagles are known, the 1796 with stars obverse is represented by 40 to 50 known, perhaps more were saved as the first of their kind when issued. Today the 1797 quarter eagle is considered one of the most underrated rarities of all quarter eagles, and deserves all the attention that it can be given. The obverse die immediately shows the vertical crack in the right obverse field, all known examples have this crack, and in later strikings the crack becomes more severe, likely limiting the issue. No other dies were used in 1797 to strike additional quarter eagles. The reverse die was probably engraved in 1796, as the style is of that year, with sixteen tiny stars over the eagle to represent the sixteen states in the union at that time. A noteworthy fact is the obverse has 13 stars while the reverse has 16 stars, reflecting the Mint's changing policy of adding stars as new states joined the Union, which halted after 16 stars, and reverted to the original 13 colonies to be representative of all the future states. The BD-1 is an extremely rare variety. Pop 2; only 7 examples are graded by PCGS, the other 7 examples are: 3 in 58, 1 in 60, 1 in 61 and 2 in 62. Estimated Value $90,000 - 100,000
Ex Auction 80, Lot 886; Ex Auction 84, Lot 853, sold for $15,400. The Americana Collection.
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| Realized $111,000 |
