1897-S Barber Quarter. MS-66+ (PCGS). CAC. One could search a lifetime and not find an 1897-S quarter with more visual appeal than this phenomenal premium Gem. Both sides are vividly toned in powder blue, reddish-gold, silver-olive, champagne-apricot and salmon pink iridescence. The strike is virtually full, as is the luster with a satin to softly frosted texture throughout. Smooth, appealing, and worthy of the strongest bids. The 1897-S has a mintage of 542,229 coins, and most examples entered circulation without fanfare, where they were lost or heavily worn. David Lawrence (1994) described the 1897-S as his "favorite date" in the series and put forth the intriguing question, "Where have they all gone?" Indeed, only in the lowest circulated grades through VG will most collectors meet with success when it comes to acquiring an 1897-S. Even mid grade circulated coins are elusive, while anything better than VF is rare. Gems are exceedingly so, and the Pogue coin is the finest certified survivor that we can ever recall handling. Exquisite!The 1897-S is the final issue in the Barber quarter series with the S mintmark in the far right position. On the present example the mintmark is above the upright of the letter D in DOL, as pictured in the Lawrence reference. Ex Dale Friend.
