1834 Capped Bust Quarter. B-1. Rarity-1. O/F in OF. MS-65 (NGC).This lovely quarter is dusted with iridescent champagne-gold obverse toning and, on the reverse, slightly bolder pewter gray patina. Both sides are highly lustrous with a smooth satin finish. It is fully struck, expertly preserved, and will be just right for inclusion in a high quality type or variety set.pThe cornerstone of the second Philadelphia Mint building on Juniper and Chestnut streets was laid on July 4, 1829, by Mint Director Samuel Moore. At around the same time, the Mint, in its existing facility, introduced several technological improvements to its processes, chief among which was the close collar (a.k.a. "collar die") which simultaneously imparted reeding to the coins edges (when desired) and gave them a uniform diameter during striking. The first coins produced using this innovation were the Capped Bust half dimes of 1829, a denomination not produced since 1805. The first chance to utilize the close collar for the quarter came in 1831, there being no examples of this denomination struck in 1829 or 1830.pTo prepare the quarter for close collar production, Engraver William Kneass modified the existing Capped Bust design by John Reich to allow it to fit onto smaller planchets of uniform diameter. Kneass refined the portrait and eagle, removed the scroll upon which the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM had been inscribed, and added a raised border around both sides. This type has since become known to numismatists as the Reduced Diameter, Reduced Size or, more informally, Small Size Capped Bust quarter. It was produced from 1831 through early 1838. Like its Large Diameter predecessor of 1815 to 1828, this type is among the more underrated in U.S. numismatics. Mint State examples of all issues are far scarcer than generally realized, and they are rare relative to demand. This Gem 1834 is of further interest due to repunching around the letters OF A in the legend, the reverse die previously used to strike the 1833 B-2 O/F in OF variety.
