The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

No.3

Obverse: The same as [Browning] 2.

Reverse: In the value, 25C., 5 does not touch the arrows, the only one of the type with 5 not in contact with any device; C is slightly nearer the eagle's tail than arrows; eagle's tail rather short and blunt; end of olive branch is over center of C; in the wing at right, foot of A is in the position as in [Browning] 2.

This appears to be one of the most common varieties.

Broken feet on 1, I and T.

Squat 5 touching nothing.

Browning-3; Clapp-3; Duphorne-11; included in Breen-3887; Haseltine-3.

Rarity-1.

Die States:
I. Perfect. Long spine from lowest leaf on right to tail of R; this fades out.
II. Crack from rim to top of first S.

III. Obverse rim breaks from above fourth star to above B, and between 1 and first star.

Marriage interrupted at this point to make the B-4 variety, and resumed after that obverse broke up.

Though common in all lower grades, this has proved to be extremely rare in full Mint State. I list the best ones auctioned:

1. "Cambridge":639 (NERCA 12/76). Uncirculated.
2. 1978 FUN:403 (Pine Tree 1/6/78). Uncirculated.
3. Auction '80:1581. Uncirculated, weak centers.
4. Miles:881. Borderline. Uncirculated.
5. Dr. Edward B. Willing:346. AU+.

Bowers & Ruddy RCR 18 (8/9/73), Austin:550, "Uncirculated, weak at center." RCR 22-24 (1975), RCR 29-31 (1977-78), "AU-55, choice." Spot between I B.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr.): 60, 60, 58, 58, 50.

No. 4

Obverse: Date equally spaced; lower left star and curl and the opposite star and drapery both close and about equally spaced; upper left star and bottom of L spaced about twice as far apart as opposite star and top of Y.

Reverse: The same as [Browning] 3.

A scarce variety.

Perfect I, T; left stars spread wide apart but close to L.

Squat 5, touching nothing.

Browning-4; not in Clapp; Duphorne-12; included in Breen-3888; Haseltine-3.

High Rarity-3, possibly Rarity-4.

Die States:
I. Light crack, rim to top of first S.
II. Small rim breaks above O and F.
III. Heavy cracks from rim through lower left part of 8, top of 1 to ribbon; from rim through left part of 6 through drapery and hair and upright of R to rim. Extremely rare. Ruby I:1132, others.

Usually found in low grades; apparently unknown choice. The best ones seen at auction include:

1. LM 10/6-7/72:72:769. EF.+
2. Bergen:13. EF.
3. Ruby I:1132 State III. EF, cleaned.
4. Edgar Levy:5. VF.

Below these is the Col. Green coin, Plate I.

Always weak in centers.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 40+, 40, 40, 30, 30, 25