The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

No. 4

Obverse: Date wide, equally spaced, small 0, centered under curl; small stars; upper left star points to top of cap.

Reverse: Ends of scroll: left about even with extreme left of D; right even with extreme right of A. On scroll: I not quite centered under T, slightly to left; S centered under S; large 5 in value, 25 C. Marks in field between olive leaf and 2, like a rusty die, or slight flaws in die.

Dies not cracked.

As to rarity there appears to be practically no difference, they are all rare if sharp, Uncirculated, and No. 1, very rare if struck Proof.

Small stars on all obverses from 1820 No. 4, to end of series, 1828.

Small date; small 0, traces of repunching on top.
Large 5; rust pits between leaf and 2.
Browning-4; Clapp-1; Duphorne-36; included in Breen-3902; Haseltine-1.
Rarity-2.

The smaller numerals, stars and dentils match those of 1821; this is reason for placing this variety last. It belongs between 1821 B-4 and 3, and the true emission sequence for 1820-1821 will probably turn out to be something like 1820 B-3, 1, 2, 1821 B-4, 1820 "B-5", 1820 B-4, 1821 B-3, 1, 2, 5. However, discovery of new die breaks can force revisions.

Proofs: only one reported. Earle:3052, Ryder, Wayte Raymond, NN 49:1146, Norweb:1532, $20,900. Made in 1821. "One-sided": obverse brilliant, reverse frosty Uncirculated of unusual sharpness. Business strikes are very rare in full Mint State. The following are among the best ones auctioned; all were graded as Uncirculated. Browning got his plate coin from U.S. Coin Co., 1916, at $2.50 as Uncirculated.

1. Boyd, WGC:72, Adolph Friedman, 1946 ANA:423.
2. J.H. South:439.
3. J.H. South:440. Prooflike; scratch below bust.
4. Wolfson:781, Speir Estate sale:13.
5. Grant Pierce:605. Cleaned.
6. Scanlon:953.
7. J.A. Stack:18, Robison:1276.
8. S 4/75:63.
9. T. Harrison Garret, J.W. Garret:633. Prooflike obverse.
10. S 1/27/81:141.
11. Miles:889. AU+.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 65, 60+, 60+, 60PL, 60PL, 60 (Many).

Small date, small traces of repunching at top.
Olive leaf left of lower berry joins border. Small 5.
Not in Browning; not in Clapp; Duphorne-91 (Addendum A); included in Breen-3902; not in Haseltine; Bergen-1. ("Obverse B-4, reverse B-2").

Rarity-6, High. Owned by many collectors when discovery was announced.

Dies States: I. Perfect.
II. Crack from rim through upright of E in ENITED toward wing.

1. J.H. South:438. Uncirculated, prooflike. Discovery coin, spring 1951.
2. Bergen: 44, ex Overton (1961). AU.
3. Leon Goodman: 901. F, light scratches (illustrated).
4. Dean Oakes. State II.
5. Bergen:116 (?). Fine. Not verified.
6. Julius Reiver. Fine.
7. Julius Reiver, private collection.

This variety was evidently struck in 1821, as specimens of 1821 B-4 have this same reverse die without cracks. The illustration in Reiver's monograph incorrectly shows the obverse of B-1 (large 0, long peak to 1) instead of the obverse of B-4 (small 0).

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 60+, 55+, 50, 25, 25, 20.