$2.50 Pre-33 Gold Coins at JM Bullion

The smallest denomination in the US Eagle Series was the $2.50 Quarter Eagle Coin. Introduced in 1796, it was produced with four primary design series through 1929, when production ended. These coins are often sought after by rare coin collectors seeking a piece of American numismatic history. Older specimens are hard to come by, but it is possible to find rare $2.50 Quarter Eagles from the Liberty Head and Indian Head collections.

Most Common Designs

While the series saw two different design options prior to the Liberty Head debut in 1840, many of those older coins were lost to the sands of time. In many cases, older specimens were lost due to surging gold prices in the 1830s. As a result, many circulating US gold pieces were melted down and/or exported overseas.

Among the more common rarities still around today in the $2.50 Quarter Eagle Series, you’ll find the Liberty Head and Indian Head designs. These two designs account for nearly 100 years of history in this program. Details on these designs include:

• Liberty Head: Designed by Christian Gobrecht and used from 1840 to 1908, this design features Liberty on the obverse and the heraldic eagle on the reverse.
• Indian Head: Designed by Bela Lyon Pratt, this design featured on the Half and Quarter Eagles, and was the first-ever incuse strike in American coining history. The obverse features an indigenous chieftain, while the reverse features a bald eagle.

Factors Contributing to Rarity

As with any historic coin, the value of a rare piece can come from a number of factors. Low original mintage figures and the desirability of certain mint marks can enhance the value of surviving specimens. The condition of the coin is also important in assigning value to any historic coin, with coins in Mint State conditions among the more highly sought-after factors.

Specific design varieties or proof issues can also add value to a rare historic coin. In the case of Quarter Eagles, one well-known rarity is the 1848 Cal $2.50 Quarter Eagle. Colonel R.B. Mason, then the military governor of California, sent the U.S. Secretary of War 230 ounces of gold from early California Gold Rush discoveries that were then minted into $2.50 Quarter Eagles with a unique CAL mark punched on the reverse.

Buy $2.50 Pre-33 Gold Coins from JM Bullion

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