1875 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. MS-61 (PCGS).Fully prooflike surfaces are dressed in equally attractive reddish-gold color. The strike is sharp-to-full throughout, and wispy abrasions are insignificant at the assigned grade level. A beautiful Uncirculated survivor of one of the most eagerly sought issues in the entire Liberty Quarter Eagle series of 1840-1907. We last offered this Condition Census example 10 years ago and we anticipate that it may be another decade before we offer an example of this significance.<p><p><p>With the exception of the double eagle denomination, the gold coin production at the Philadelphia Mint in 1875 can only be described as minuscule at best. 400 gold dollars, 400 quarter eagles, 200 half eagles, and 100 eagles were struck for circulation while the three-dollar gold piece was only made in Proof format. While appreciated today as one of the best known key issues of the series, at the time numismatists preferred to obtain Proof specimens rather than coins intended for circulation. As a result, comparatively few specimens exist today: David Akers postulated that as few as only 20 pieces survive, however, Garrett and Guths estimate of about 50 is the most accepted figure. Of those paltry few coins, most are in the higher circulated grade levels. Mint State specimens are formidable condition rarities that seldom appear on the market and are hotly pursued by not only quarter eagle specialists but date collectors.<p>PCGS# 7822. NGC ID: 25KS.PCGS Population: 3; 1 finer.Ex our August 2010 sale of the Horseshoe Collection, lot 1566.
