1836 Classic Head Quarter Eagle. HM-1. Rarity-3. Large Head, Block 8. MS-63 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety: </strong>HM-1. Obverse 1: The Large Head, Block 8 combination readily attributes this obverse, which is used only in the HM-1 pairing. The style of hair curls along the top of Libertys head is very distinct on this device punch, with deep indentations between broadly sweeping curls. There is also a prominent indentation within the curls along the back of Libertys head. Reverse F: There is a weak, detached tongue in the eagles mouth and small, split berry at the end of a branch stem that varies from strong to weak depending on die state. The letter D in UNITED is slightly lower than the adjacent E. Reverse F appears in the 1836 HM-1 and HM-8 pairings, the extremely rare 1837 HM-2 attribution, and the only known variety of the 1839 quarter eagle.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>The berry stem is always strong to full on examples of this variety, indicating that the 1836 HM-1 was struck before the shared reverse HM-8 pairing of the issue. It is thought to be a product of calendar year 1836.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>An early to middle die state of the 1836 HM-1 attribution, the berry stem on this piece is attenuated from die lapping, yet still complete.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 285 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 13% of extant 1836 Classic Head quarter eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Crisply impressed, both sides exhibit sharp to full detail from a nicely executed strike. Indeed, the 1836 HM-1 variety as a whole is one of the most consistently well produced in the entire Classic Head quarter eagle series.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Soft satin luster on the obverse yields to a somewhat more frosty texture on the reverse. The luster is full on both sides and blends nicely with handsome light golden-apricot color. The surfaces are uncommonly smooth for the assigned grade and would not be out of place at the near-Gem level.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>Writing of this variety Daryl J. Haynor (2020) states:<p><em> It is not too difficult to locate an 1836 HM-1 quarter eagle, as there are an estimated 285 examples, representing a Rarity-3 rating. Locating a higher end Mint State coin, however, is nearly impossible.</em><p>Clearly this upper end Choice survivor ranks among the finer known, and with its minimally abraded surfaces it a strong candidate for Condition Census standing. Whether one is assembling a high grade gold type set or specialized collection of this underrated quarter eagle series, here is a significant offering that should not be missed. PCGS# 764705. NGC ID: 25FU. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the Block 8 variety): 16; 14 finer (MS-66 finest). From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. The plate coin for the 1836 HM-1 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.