1860-S 1/2 LIBERTY HEAD GOLD QUARTER EAGLE, NGC AU53, SCARCE/RARE

Description

1860-S 1/2 Liberty Head Gold Quarter Eagle
NGC graded AU53
This coin shows evidence of a re-punched date with digit elements between the 86 and 61. Walter Breen in his "Complete encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" refers to this coin (his 6255) as "rare".
Garrett and Guth consider the coin underrated in their "Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933" (2008). They say, "A review of auction data for the last decade clearly illustrates the true rarity of the 1860-S quarter eagle. Only 26 examples have been offered since 1999; four of those were in the auctions of the Harry W. Bass Jr. collection... This date saw extensive circulation and most examples that are seen today are heavily worn. The 1860-S quarter eagle is truly underrated when compared to the coins of this era from the Southern mints."
David Akers' "United States Gold Coins - An Analysis of Auction Records - Volume II - Quarter Eagles" (1975) states, "The 1860-S is a very scarce coin in any condition and is extremely rare better than EF... most known specimens are very worn." His Average Grade for the 1860-S quarter eagle is VF-28. This coin shows fine hairlines throughout resulting in the AU53 grade.
Looking at the auction records of 3 major auction houses (and excluding details/damaged coins) only 55 1860-S quarter eagles have been sold in the last 11 1/2 years. Some of those 55 are repeat sales of the same coin.
NGC/PCGS graded population 235 including resubmissions. PCGS Coinfacts believes that only 105 survive in all grades.
Mintage 35,600
Pedigree: Steve Studer Collection (2021)
Will ship via USPS Priority Express Mail, signature required.