1804 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-4. 14-Star Reverse. EF-40 (NGC).；Handsome deep gold surfaces with splashes of more vivid reddish-rose patina in the protected areas around the borders and devices. This is a well balanced, overall bold EF that even reveals faint remnants of satiny mint luster as the surfaces rotate under a light.<p>In the earliest days of the Republic, the quarter eagle was the least popular of the gold denominations. With the half eagle performing the bulk of everyday domestic commercial use, the quarter eagle was rarely ordered by banks and met with minimal demand. Case in point: the 3,327 quarter eagles struck in 1804 is the second largest mintage of the Capped Bust Right series. As a result, it is also generally one of the most available early quarter eagles, with only some 150 to 200 surviving specimens, the vast majority of which being the Bass-Dannreuther-2 variety with 14 stars on the reverse. Interestingly, the engraver intended to keep all the stars in even lines in a "star cross" pattern, but included 14 stars instead of stopping at 13, seemingly in an effort to maintain symmetry in the layout, with one star almost one-third covered by the eagles left wing and another touching the eagles beak and ribbon. Despite its minimal appeal in commercial channels, quarter eagles spent significant time in circulation, with the lions share of the some 150 to 200 examples residing at the lower circulated grade levels. Sought after by type collectors and early gold specialists alike, a solid example of an overall rare issue.
