The 1846 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins were made at the Philadelphia, Charlotte (C), Dahlonega (D), and New Orleans (O) mints. As with most gold coins, the 1846 is considered scarce, however gold coins from the Charlotte and Dahlonega mints are the most rare in terms of overall availability. This is due to the fact that back in the 1800’s, coins were not saved in substantial quantities to begin with, and most have been lost or melted.
The 1846 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, is also known as Coronet Head type quarter eagles, were designed by Christian Gobrecht. Gobrecht served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint and designed the widely popular Seated Liberty coins struck from the 1830s through the early 1890s.
The coin grading process is designed to ensure that coins are authentic and contain the right amount and mix of metals. The grading process is also used to make an accurate and fair determination of a coin’s overall condition. The process involves several steps, and a team of expert coin graders is used to manage these steps. These same coin graders, after gathering all necessary analysis, then assign a coin its final grade. While the process is quite subjective in nature, these expert numismatists also use a degree of experience and judgment when grading coins. You can get a good idea of how your coin may be graded by performing a close inspection of your coin’s surfaces and details.
Use the specifications below to determine how your Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin might be graded.
Uncirculated: Coins that are given a grade of uncirculated will look as if they are brand new. These coins will have crisp and clean details, lines and edges, and will appear as if they were just removed from the mint’s presses. All of the coin’s details, no matter how small, will be robust and clear. Many of these coins will have a nice, shiny luster and finish as well, although some may have a very slight difference in color due to age. You can use a magnifying glass to closely examine details on your coin while checking for any wear or erosion.
Extremely Fine: A coin that is graded to be extremely fine is in slightly inferior condition to a coin with a grade of uncirculated. Coins in this condition may have very minor imperfections or blemishes on the surfaces or details. The coin’s texture may also feel smoother to the touch, as years of exchanging hands have taken a toll on the coin’s surface.
Fine: A step below extremely fine, coins in fine condition have all of their images and text intact, but also have very easy-to-see signs of age and wear. Coins in this condition may have considerable erosion on their surfaces, and their overall appearance may be dull.
Good: Another step lower on the grading scale, coins in good condition will often have significant damage to details and surfaces. In addition, the coin’s edges may be worn or deformed. Sometimes, the damage is severe enough that you cannot identify the coin or its details without the use of a magnifying glass or other visual aid. Even though these coins are often not in great shape, they may still be quite valuable if they are difficult to obtain or are historically significant.
The Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin is easy to price simply because there are only a few different factors you have to take into consideration. For one, because there were multiple types of these coins produced every year, the type of coin you have will directly influence the price you pay for it. The condition of the coin is also something that plays into the price. The more well-preserved the coin is, the higher the asking price will be. Below is a chart of the prices you can expect to pay for a Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin from 1846 given its condition and type.
Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1846 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin | N/A | N/A | $700 | $1,000 |
1846 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin (C) | N/A | N/A | $2,750 | $7,500 |
1846 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin (D) | N/A | N/A | $2,400 | $3,250 |
1846 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin (O) | N/A | N/A | $525 | $1,200 | Source: Red Book |