The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

Quarter Dollars of 1804

The second year of coinage. Total number of pieces coined 6,738.

The obverse is of the type of 1796, but the number of stars is reduced to thirteen, seven at left and six at right of the bust.

The reverse shows an entire change; an eagle with raised wings, bearing the United States shield upon its breast. From its beak floats a scroll inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM. In the right talon it grasps a bundle of thirteen arrows, and in the left an olive branch. Legend: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Above the eagle are clouds and thirteen stars, and below, the value, 25 C.

Two varieties are known.

Dies by Robert Scot; obverse after Gilbert Stuart as preceding, reverse after the Great Seal of the United States, but with arrows and olive branch transposed (as on all other silver and gold denominations through 1807), in error or militaristic braggadocio.

No.1

Obverse: Date not equally spaced, 4 is low, about twice as far below bust as in [Browning] 2. Lower right star is nearer drapery than in [Browning] 2; upper left star points to almost the bottom of L. In LIBERTY, bottom space between B and E, is almost double that in [Browning] 2. A small mark in relief, caused by a cut or a flaw in the die, is found between the two upper stars at right, touching one point of next to upper star.

Reverse: In UNITED, D touches end of third from upper feather in eagle's wing at left.

Dies perfect in early impressions; in later pieces obverse is cracked as follows: (a) Cracked in two places; from edge to bust through 0 in date; from right edge toward bust between second and third star from bottom; (b) A third crack on bust and in field, beginning on the drapery near hair, extending over neck to chin, and appearing in field just below lower lip. This variety is scarce in common condition and rare if sharp.

The following are the best ones known to me:

1. British collection, LM 10/6/72:768 (opened at $11,000, bid up to $25,000), D.G.P., Ed Milas, "young New Orleans dealer," Auction '81:108, $55,000. Uncirculate, frosty sharply struck.

2. Swiss collection, Auction '80:1173. Uncirculated, prooflike, unevenly struck with borders partly weak. $70,000

3. C.A. Cass, Empire :999, Chicago collection. Uncirculated, adjustment marks at top obverse.

4. Col. Green, Kern:1385, Gardner:1620, Speir Estate sale:2, $16,500, 1975 ANA:352, $10,500. Uncirculated.

5. J.A. Stack Estate:3, Auction '79:578. Uncirculated. Field nick below obverse ribbon.

6. Michael F. Higgy, (1943), Adolph Friedman, 1946 ANA:412, Bareford:323. Described as Uncirculated, weak. One of the above may be from Aulick, Woodward 5/21/88:1963.

7. Stenz, Randall, Garret:623, $80,000. AU+

8. Newcomer, Col. Green, T. James Clarke, NN 47:1558. AU+.

9. Virgil Brand, Wayte Raymond, NN 33:474. AU+.

10. Norweb:1513. AU+. $24,200.

11. Menjou:667 (not illustrated) "AU+." Same as next?

12. Westwood Collection, Bowers & Ruddy RCR (Rare Coin Review) 12 (9-10/1971)

13. Miles:878, "Maryland collection," S 10/70:396, Champa:794. EF+.

14. Bergen: 3. EF.

15. Browning?, Col. Green. EF. Plate I.

16. Holmes:2919. About EF.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr.): 66, 63, 62, 60, 60, 60

No. 2

Obverse: Date equally spaced, 4 is high, about half as far below bust as in [Browning] 1. Lower right star is further from drapery than in [Browning] 1. In LIBERTY, bottom space between B and E, is not much more than half that in [Browning] 1. The small mark in relief between the two upper stars at right is not found in this variety.

Reverse: The same as [Browning] 1.

Dies perfect. A very rare variety.

Date spaced 18 04, the 4 almost touching bust; BE close; no die cut.
Different obverse letter punches, not matching those on reverse.
B-2; not in C; D-4; included in E-3883; not in H; Hilt 2 (obverse 4)
High Rarity- 6
Die States. I Perfect.
II. Triple clash marks, plainest on reverse.
III. Crack from the end of drapery through the last four (later, last five) stars. WGC:10; latest, Newcomer, Col. Green, Macallister, T. James Clarke, NN 47:1559, and Ruby-G:577.
The following are all I have located to date:

1. Edgar Levy:2 (Kosoff MBS 5/24/55), "VF"
2. Ruby I:1127. Almost VF.
3. Allenburger:546, Ruby, G::546. Fine Plus.
4. Overton, 1961; Bergen:4. Fine.
5. Boyd, WGC:7. "VG-F."
6. Kreigsberg/Cohen 9/10-12/73:1611 "Sharp VG."
7. NN 49:1143 to J.A.T. VG.
8. Kreigsberg/Cohen 9/10-12/73:659. VG. Reverse X scratch.
9. Col. E.H.R. Green. Plate VIII. Barely good.

Others, including JRCS 010,012 (The notation "JRCS 010" (or other number) refers to the collection of a specific member of the John Reich Collectors Society indentified only by his or her number, otherwise remaining anonymous.)
Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr.): 25, 20+, 20+, 15, 12, 12.