The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

Quarter Dollars of 1828

Total number of pieces coined 102,000. Four varieties are known.

No. 1

Obverse: Date close, about equally spaced. The four end stars are all nearer the bust than in [Browning] 4, the other die; lower left star is nearer drapery than in [Browning] 4, the most noticeable difference between the two dies.

Reverse: The same as 1827 [Browning] 1.

Obverse due perfect. The reverse is cracked at the top of the scroll, left and right, as in 1827 No. 1, but in later pieces a third crack is found, from lower left edge up to top of U in UNITED, crossing the ends the two olive leaves under tip of eagle's wing, but not touching the wing.

This appears to be the most common variety.

Curl begins above left side of 8; first star points to bottom of dentil; minute repunching on 10th and 11th stars.

Reverse of 1827, cracked through ED to scroll below first S.

Browning-1; Clapp-2; Duphorne-53; included in Breen-3913; Haseltine-1.

Rarity-2.

Date punches are the same as on the "Small Date" cents (Newcomb-10) and apparently the half eagles.

Die States: I. Only the cracks from ED to scroll and from scroll to AME. J.H. South:473, others.
II. Crack, rim to U to two leaf tips. WGC:92; J.H. South:474.
III. Crack, rim to leaf tip; other cracks heavier. Rare.
IV. Crack, rim to IT. Very rare. Ruby I:1152, EF.

Proofs:
1. Boyd, WGC:93, possibly ex J.B. Wilson:583, Woodin:564. State III. This may be the same as J.A. Stack Estate:31, $3500.
2, 3. Shown me by David M. Bullowa, March 18, 1952.
4. Speir Estate sale:21. One of these is probably from Parmelee:981.

The variety usually obtained in grades below Ex. Fin but rare above that level. Uncirculateds include the prooflike Clapp-Eliasberg coin; Neil:889 (spotty obverse); J.H. South:473-4; Holmes:2942; J.A. Stack:32 (spot on third star); and others.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 60PL, 60, 60, 60, 55, 55.

No. 2

Obverse: The same as [Browning] 1.
Reverse: From the reverse die of 1824, showing the two identifying marks mentioned in the description of that die.
Dies perfect. A scarce variety, rare if sharp.
Obverse of B-1.
Reverse of 1824; spine from arrowhead; chip between S of STATES and S in motto.
Browning-2; not in Clapp; Duphorne-55; included in Breen-3913; not in Haseltine.
Rarity-4.
Proofs:
"Dupont":1804, not illustrated.
2. Mills (1904):1000, same as last?
Extremely rare choice. The following are the best business strikes auctioned:
1. Spring:520. Prooflike Uncirculated, deep toning.
2. Reed Hawn:276. Uncirculated.
3. Ruby, Gilhousen
4. WGC:94, Edgar Levy:21. VF.
5. Bergen:60. VF, mint clip at 4:00.
6. "Dupont": 1805, G.K. About VF.
7. Cass, "Empire":1025. Fine.
8. Philip G. Straus Estate, NN 53:722. Nearly Fine, obverse field nick. Note: The "EF" in J.H. South:475 was B-1.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 60PL, 60, 50, 45, 40, 40.

No. 3

Obverse: The same as [Browning] 1 and 2.
Reverse: The same as 1822 [Browning] 2 (25 over 50 in the value, 25 C.)
Dies perfect. A scarce variety, rare if sharp.

25/50, resurrected die of 1822.
Browning 3; Clapp-3; Duphorne-54; Breen-3914; not in Haseltine.
Rarity-4.
Usually in low grades, but less difficult to find choice than B-2.
The following are the best ones auctioned:
1.Norweb:1545. $2,750.
2. J.A. Stack:33, Robinson:1286. Uncirculated, spotty. Possibly ex Belden Roach:2159, "Uncirculated, every star filled," Kern:1213.
3. Grant Pierce:614. Uncirculated, weak lower obverse border.
4. T. Harrison Garrett, J.W. Garrett:643. AU+. $6,500.
5. Boyd, WGC:95, Neil:900. AU+. $6,500.
6. Miles:901, Speir Estate sale:22, 1982 ANA:2130. EF-AU, obverse rim nick at 7:00, prooflike.
7. Armand Champa:796, 1975 ANA:360. EF-AU.
8. Bergen:61. "EF, cleaned." Probably ex Bowers & Ruddy RCR 11-12 (1971), "VF-XF."
9. Doug Winter, cherrypicked from H.M.F. Schulman, VF.
10. Wayte Raymond, 1920, at $2, to Browning; later Col. Green, Boyd, WGC:96, "VF." Browning plate coin.
11. Philip G. Straus Estate (5/59):1710. Fine.
12. Scanlon:959. Fine, not illustrated.
13. Bowers & Ruddy RCR 16 (Oct. 1972). Fine.
14. Laurel City Coins, 1982 F.U.N., Doug Winter. Possibly one of last three.
15. Ruby I:1153. About Fine.
16. Ruby, Gilhousen:600. VG or better.
17. T. James Clarke, NN 47:1576. About VG.

This reverse die, like the blundered 1824/3/2/1/0 half dollar obverse, was one of Scot's closet skeletons, retrieved from his vault after his death and briefly used for economy reasons.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 62, 60, 60, 60, 60, 55.