Lot 4549
1839-D $2.50 Classic Head. . Breen-6151. NGC graded MS-61. This date is prohibitively rare in Mint State (see census below). Well struck with subdue frosty mint luster. The surfaces are golden-honey in color. There is a jumble of recutting at the 9 in the date. The placement of the D mintmark between date and neck truncation is unique on the quarter eagle to the 1839 vintage. Beginning in 1840 with the new Gobrecht design, the mintmark was moved to the reverse. Always popular, and a coin that surpasses many other survivors in terms of its beauty and sharp devices. Only 13,674 minted. Pop 7; 7 finer, 2 in 62, 3 in 63, 2 in 64 (PCGS # 7700) .
Note: two pairs of dies were shipped January 10, 1839, but only one obverse was used, that having the 9 cut over an 8. Each year between 1834 and 1839 saw minor design modifications to Liberty. According to Breen, "In 1838, Gobrecht replaced this head by a still cruder one imitating the 'Booby Head,' but larger with tiny stars; nor was his new version of 1839 any improvement."
Estimated Value $24,000 - 26,000.
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