Of the above quantity, 7,200 pieces were in eagles; 286,588 pieces were in half eagles; and 47,030 pieces were in quarter eagles. Of the bullion deposited, there was supplied from the mines of the United States: At Philadelphia, $171,700; Charlotte, $127,000; Dahlonega, $135,700; New Orleans, $700. Total native bullion: $435,100.” — Robert M. Patterson, Report of the Director of the Mint, showing the Operations of that institution during the year 1838..A spectacular way to end to this run of Philadelphia Mint quarter eagles from the D. Brent Pogue Collection, this is the single finest example of the entire design type graded by PCGS and the lone specimen at the MS-67 grade. This pristine gem shows immaculate fields free of all but the most inconsequential of disturbances, without a single mark that registers on any standard of significance. But for a few of the most modest possible interruptions of the frost on Libertys cheek, this could be graded still higher. The surfaces swim with luster, satiny and deep, and the devices stand out with thick frost. The light yellow gold shade is not just beautiful, but a precise peek into how coins of this design type must have looked as they fell from the dies. The strike is solid, with good central detail and only a trivial area of weakness at the upper left of the shield. Choose your favorite superlative, then find its synonym, and apply both liberally, as this coin can stand up to any standard of excellence a collector could apply. This is Pogue quality.Representing another historic first in American numismatics, 1838 was the first year United States gold coins were struck outside of the Philadelphia Mint. The long-simmering gold rushes of the South had focused on western North Carolina and northern Georgia but also incorporated parts of South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and even Virginia. The difficulty of transporting gold from the American South to the Mint in Philadelphia had led to the founding of branch mints in the mining regions of Georgia, at Dahlonega, and North Carolina, at Charlotte. Despite the establishment of the branch mints, abundant American-mined metal still found its way to Philadelphia, and the Report of the Director of the Mint reflected that $435,100 worth of gold from American ore was coined at the four operating United States Mints in 1838. The first delivery of quarter eagles for the year arrived on May 3 of that year.This is unquestionably the finest surviving example of this date. No Proofs are known in private hands or institutional collections. The extraordinary Eliasberg coin, later offered in Auction 88, was last seen graded MS-65 (NGC) in 2012. Called "Extremely Rare" in choice Uncirculated by Walter Breen, this issue has seen just six submissions graded above MS-63 by PCGS. No other Classic Head quarter eagle of any date or mint has ever been graded MS-67, making this the ultimate example for a type-collecting connoisseur.
