An incredible coin of absolutely astonishing beauty and quality. — David W. AkersProofs were made from these dies. — Ard W. Browning, 1925The remarkable Pogue collection coin is an important specimen, sold as a Proof in the Pittman sale and quite probably intended as a Proof when struck. The surfaces are distinctive from other high grade Browning-2s, or other 1837 quarters, showing bold reflectivity on both sides. Devoid of the usual satiny luster, incredibly well struck with all star centers and other design elements crisply defined, this piece passes the arms length and magnified scrutiny tests of a Proof look easily. The rim is perhaps not as square as some, nor is the reeding as clock-tooth bold as sometimes encountered on Proofs of this era, but the quality of surface and manufacture is evidently different from the superb gem that follows in the next lot. The toning of this coin is as beautiful as could be expected on a gem Proof of the era, with central shades of violet and gold turning to deep blue at the rims. A small patch of spalling is seen on Libertys chin, along with scant evidence of a die clash around Liberty and the eagle. An extremely fine and easy to miss die crack descends from the cap to Libertys ear through the left base of R in LIBERTY. A glass finds no significant marks or hairlines, though some raised die polish lines are seen around the central reverse device. The linear graver lines extend from the denticles all the way to the rim. This coin offers extraordinary aesthetics, history, and rarity.Formerly certified as a Proof-68 CAM (NGC), we have no reason to doubt the Proof status of this piece. David W. Akers, a great authority on Proofs of this era during his lifetime, described this piece as an unintentional Proof, adding Prooflike business strikes of this variety are known, and there are some who may feel this coin is also just a prooflike business strike. However, the prooflike examples of this date that I have seen are of a significantly different nature and fabric than this particular specimen and, therefore, although probably not struck intentionally as a Proof, this coin merits the Proof designation. It is particularly telling that a Proof from these dies is in the Mint Cabinet collection, now part of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Walter Breen, a valuable source of information on Proofs even if not the last word in the modern era, singled this specimen out, saying a Proof from these dies was first reported from the Browning (?) - Col. Green coin; cf. Cleneay:1352. He notes he saw one other authentic Proof, over 20 years ago (i.e. 20 years before his original 1976 manuscript), but its present ownership is not now known to me. The other coin Breen recalls may well be the Mint Cabinet piece; Breen studied the coins of the National Numismatic Collection under the mentorship of Stuart Mosher in the early 1950s. Breens adoption of a provenance to the 1890 Cleneay sale was picked up in the Pittman sale, but Cleneay:1352, while described as Proof, was neither plated nor attributed as to variety.In any event, this is the finest known 1837 quarter dollar. Tied with the next lot as the only two MS-67 examples ever certified by PCGS, its technical merits are easy to see and its credentials as a Proof stand in bold contrast to the frosty gem that follows. If this coin never receives any further kudos than being the most spectacular 1837 quarter in existence, a coin with as fine a provenance as anyone could hope for, it is a world-class property. If, however, it is recognized as the Proof that so many experts have deemed it, it stands alone, unique, and of the highest numismatic importance.
