1835 Classic Head Quarter Eagle. HM-3. Rarity-5. No Berry. MS-65+ (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-3. Obverse 1: The Mint used only a single obverse die to strike all 1835 quarter eagles. Repunching is evident at the letter I in LIBERTY and, to a lesser extent, the letters R and Y. Reverse E: The only reverse of the issue with no berry in the branch. The 1835 HM-3 shares Reverse E with the HM-3, HM-4 and HM-7 pairings of the 1836 issue.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>This variety actually represents the second use of Reverse E in the Classic Head quarter eagle series. The first is the 1836 HM-4, which emission sequence confirms that all 1835 HM-3 coins were struck during calendar year 1836.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>In addition to the obverse cracks described above for the 1835 HM-2 specimen in the Virginian Collection, this HM-3 example exhibits a reverse crack from the eagles right wing tip through the letters ST in STATES. Branches from this crack extend to the top of the adjacent A and, more prominently, through the bases of the letters ATES. There is a die chip between the left upright and diagonal of the letter N in UNITED. This is the typical die state of the issue, seen on all known examples.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 45 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or only 8% of extant 1835 Classic Head quarter eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Somewhat softly struck at the centers, with little detail in and around Libertys ear, and typical of the issue as such. Both sides do, however, exhibit considerably sharper definition toward the borders with the peripheral features virtually full.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Incredible satiny luster on both obverse and reverse enlivens rich yellow-gold fields highlighted in pale rose. The fields display an extraordinary level of freshness, a quality rarely seen in examples of this type. A light abrasion inside star 12 in the lower right obverse field is the only notable mark. A gorgeous example whose exceptional surface quality will appeal to connoisseurs.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>This is a very scarce variety, the second rarest of the issue after HM-1, but, remarkably it has yielded the finest certified and probably also the finest known 1835 Classic Head quarter eagle -- this gorgeous Gem Mint State example. Given an "A" rating and ranked #1 in Daryl J. Haynors 2020 Condition Census listing. An impressive provenance that includes two of the finest collections of Classic Head gold ever formed enhances this coins desirability. PCGS# 764695. NGC ID: 25FT. PCGS Population (all die varieties of the issue): 1; 0 finer. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merenas) Rarities Sale of September 2002, lot 449; our (American Numismatic Rarities) Classics Sale of January 2004, lot 399; our (in conjunction with Sothebys) sale of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part II, September 2015, lot 2060. The plate coin for the 1835 HM-3 die pairing in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
