The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

No. 5

Obverse: The same as [Browning] 3 and 4.

Reverse: The same as [Browning] 2.

Dies perfect. Apparently a rare variety.

34 close; eighth and 10th stars repunched.
Close high 25 C., small weak period; branch beyond C; forked tongue.
Browning-5; not in Clapp; Duphorne-69; included in Breen-3926; Haseltine-2.
Rarity-6, High.

Sometimes shows clash marks of shield near neck and ear; these wear off, as they are found again in slightly different locations on some B-4's and B-3's (varieties with this same obverse, struck after B-5).

The following are all the specimens [Breen] had managed to locate:
1. E.A. Rice, probably from Henry Chapman's stock. Prooflike Uncirculated, with clash marks.
2. Julian Leidman (1973), Bergen:84. EF-AU, scrape on chin and before mouth.
3. Detwiler, Col. Green. Plate VIII. VF? Quality of illustration obscures condition.
4. Boyd, WGC:119. About VG.

I have not examined the copper striking. It's first publication appears to have been Bangs & Co. 10/17/1860:380. However, cast counterfeits exist, and one of these could be mistaken for it.

The piece pictured in Bowers & Ruddy RCR 14 (April-May, 1972), p. 28, with obverse B-1 (cracked as Browning describes) and reverse B-4, is not otherwise verified; [Breen] was not completely convinced that obverse and reverse are from the same coin. Its purchases would do well to attribute it!

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 60PL, 58, 55+, 45, 45, 40. High grades in date sets.