1882 Pattern Shield Earring Quarter Dollar. Judd-1698, Pollock-1900. Rarity-7-. Silver. Reeded Edge. Proof-65+ (PCGS). CAC. Obv: George T. Morgans classic Shield Earring design with a head of Liberty facing right, the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM above, the date 1882 below, and 13 stars arranged around the border seven left, six right. Liberty wears shield-shaped earrings, and an encircling band on her head is inscribed LIBERTY. Rev: A defiant eagle with raised wings faces right and clutches an olive branch in its right talon and three arrows in its left talon. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR is below. Exquisite Gem surfaces are richly toned in copper-apricot, cobalt blue, pinkish-rose and olive-gold. Fully struck overall and expertly preserved, definitely high end for the grade.This famous design by George T. Morgan is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful pattern motifs made in the 19th century by the United States Mint. Examples were issued in three-piece pattern Proof sets that comprised the quarter, half dollar and silver dollar, in silver or copper. The website <em>uspatterns.com</em> accounts for no more than nine survivors of the Judd-1698 quarter dollar in silver, two of which are permanently held by the Smithsonian Institution and Harry W. Bass Research Foundation, and one of which might be a duplicate listing. With only six or seven specimens in private hands, therefore, it may be many years before another bidding opportunity comes along for this rare and eagerly sought pattern type. From our (Stacks) sale of the Randolph S. Rothschild Collection, October 2003, lot 1072; Heritages sale of the Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two, January 2009 FUN Auction, lot 1945.
