$2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagle

$2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagle Coin Highlights

• Composition is .12094 troy oz of gold (90% purity) and 10% copper alloy
• Weight: 4.18 grams
• Diameter: 18 mm
• Designed by Christian Gobrecht (minted from 1840–1907)

The $2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagle was a smaller denomination gold coin that was circulated widely throughout the United States. Back then, it had the equivalent of today’s dollar amount of $80. The design by the highly renowned Christian Gobrecht, the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle remained virtually unchanged for 67 years which is a record for any gold coin in American history. Because of their age and history these coins are a desirable addition to any investment portfolio or numismatic collection.

History of the $2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagle Gold Piece

If President Roosevelt was the champion of experimentation and innovation for American coinage, Senator Thomas Hart Benton was the champion for the return to the use of gold as money. As the country’s most vocal proponent of “hard money,” the Missouri Senator pushed forth a Bill that would become known as the Act of June 28, 1834. The Bill passed. Later that year, Quarter Eagles and Half Eagles were made for general circulation. The Mint’s Chief Engraver at the time was William Kneass, designed the initial Quarter Eagles based on the Classic Liberty Head motif first used on the copper cent created by John Reich. After a few years, the design still never really caught on.

In 1840 the Quarter Eagle design was revised by one of the most respected craftsman of the period Christian Gobrecht. He developed a design based Benjamin West’s portrait of Venus in his painting Omnia Vincit Amor. It was a brilliant idea that resonated with the national consciousness throughout the rest of the century. The same style carried through the other gold Eagles produced by the government.

So popular was the design that it remained unchanged for almost 70 years. It remains the longest running design for a gold coin.

Colonel R. B. Mason, the military governor California, sent 230 ounces of gold to the Secretary of War Marcy. They were melted at the mint and made into Quarter Eagles, all of them bearing the mark CAL above the heraldic eagle on the reverse. Only 1,389 of these 1848 “Cal” coins were produced and now are highly sought after my collectors.

Liberty Head Quarter Eagles are usually well struck with bold definitions. Typically, the lower part of the Eagle is not as pronounced. Proof strikes from 1858 to 1878 are rare and those before 1858 are exceedingly so. The 1863 war-time issue exist only as a Proof with a minuscule mintage of 30. Later Proofs between 1879 and 1907 exist in proportion to the original mintages of the corresponding business strikes.

Remember, basic rarity never goes out of style. A good case in point for the Indian Head Quarter Eagle is the 1911-D. Condition rarity, on the other hand, for pieces that are common in grades such as MS-65 and MS-66 can be a tricky investment. If Quarter Eagles, in general, are appealing to you as a specialty, start by forming a type set and then build from there.

Midas Gold Group has traded thousands of $2.5 Liberty Quarter Eagle coins. Whether you are building your collection, buying as an investment or looking to sell we are your best resource. Give us a call today and see how we can you as an investor or as a collector.