Lot 1665
Choice 1804 14 Star Quarter Eagle in AU-55. PCGS graded AU-55. This coin received very little wear during its brief time in circulation, which is obvious when a glass is used to examine Liberty. Her cheek is full and round, and her curls show original separation on all but the highest points. As is normal, this coin shows adjustment marks, which are found on the left side of the obverse. Said adjustment marks were to "adjust" the weight of the planchet down to the Mint's standard. Issuing a coin too heavy, or too light, brought with it severe penalties. Hence great effort was taken to assure accurate weight planchets were produced. It was far easier to produce slightly heavy planchets and file the excess precious metal off than to produce slightly light planchets which had to be remelted into bricks, drawn though roller machines to bring them to the proper thickness, and recut planchets from them. Thus, many early gold and silver coins show adjustment marks.
The fourteen-star reverse appears to be an old leftover die from 1798 as the star-cross pattern was used rather than the arc star pattern which was adopted on Heraldic eagle coinage in mid-1798. On the star-cross pattern, the stars are arranged in straight lines. It is curious to note that the first star on the left is buried in the eagle's wing, with three of the six points hidden. A very scarce issue, with few survivors known.
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| Realized $10,925 |
