1849 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). OGH.A truly magnificent survivor of this early Liberty Head issue struck in the first decade of production for the series. The superior nature of the eye appeal and the surface quality cannot be overstated. The vibrant sunshine-yellow complexion reveals flashes of powder-blue and tangerine iridescence in the protected areas. The fields glow with subtle reflectivity that contrasts the richly frosted luster atop the design elements. Well struck for the issue, despite the typical central softness, and fully devoid of distracting abrasions. The 1849 quarter eagle is a rare and underrated Philadelphia Mint issue from the early days of Christian Gobrechts Coronet, or Liberty Head, design type. A fairly small mintage of 23,294 circulation strikes has been reduced to just about 115 survivors across all grades over the past two centuries. The vast majority of these show signs of handling and circulation, leaving only about 15 in Mint State for todays advanced collectors. At the MS-64 level, this piece sits at the top of the Condition Census for the issue, tied with just one other example graded by PCGS. No examples have been graded finer than MS-63 by NGC. This offering also represents the first auction appearance for an MS-64 in recent decades, making it a truly historic opportunity for specialists and Registry Set participants. PCGS# 7752.
