1837 Classic Head Quarter Eagle. HM-1. Rarity-3. MS-65+ (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-1. Obverse 1: Star 7 points between the first and second curls along the top of Libertys head, whereas on the only other obverse known for this issue this star points to the center of the first curl. Obverse 1 was used for both die pairings of the circulation strike 1837 quarter eagle issue. Reverse A: Distinguished from the only other reverse die of this circulation strike issue by the lowest arrow head joining the final letter A in AMERICA. The 1837 HM-1 and 1834 HM-1 represent the only known uses of Reverse A in this series, which was brought back into service after striking coins of the first year 1834 HM-1 attribution.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>The 1837 HM-1 features the second and final use of Reverse A in this series. It is the first variety of circulation strike 1837 quarter eagle produced and was followed by the shared reverse die pairing HM-2.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>The Virginian Collection specimen represents a typical state of this die pairing. The obverse exhibits a bisecting crack from the upper right border outside star 9 to the lower border at the digit 1 in the date. On the reverse, die cracks are seen at both of the eagles wing tips and along the bases of the letters TATE in STATES. The berry stem is severely attenuated from lapping.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 380 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 96.5% of extant 1837 Classic Head quarter eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Boldly to sharply rendered throughout, this coin exhibits superior definition for a circulation strike quarter eagle of the type.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Beautiful satin surfaces exhibit a few blushes of faint powder blue iridescence on dominant golden-orange color. Wispy handling marks are at an absolute minimum, as one should demand for the assigned grade, and a few subtle planchet drift marks (as made) over and before Libertys neck are mentioned as identifying features to confirm this coins provenance.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>By far the most plentiful die pairing of the 1837 quarter eagle, HM-1 accounts for the majority of circulation strikes produced. With only 380 coins believed extant in all grades, however, the scarcity of the 1837 as an issue is obvious. Mint State survivors are rare, and few grade finer than MS-63. This extraordinary premium Gem is the single finest certified at PCGS and NGC combined, its ranking as CC#1 for the issue confirmed by its prominent listing in Daryl J. Haynors 2020 reference on Classic Head gold coinage. The authors grade for the coin is "MS65+/A." Finer even than the Pogue coin in PCGS MS-65 -- a notable condition rarity in its own right -- an impressive provenance enhances the desirability of the Virginian Collection specimen. Just right for another world class gold cabinet. PCGS# 764774. NGC ID: 25FU. PCGS Population (both circulation strike die marriages of the issue): 1; 0 finer. There are no 1837 quarter eagles certified finer than MS-63 at NGC. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier ex "Famous Western Collection;" Harmer Rookes Million Dollar Sale, Part I, November 1969, lot 402; Harry W. Bass, Jr,; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II, October 1999, lot 305; David W. Akers; Stellar Collection, 2005, via Chris Napolitano. The plate coin for the 1837 HM-1 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
