Draped Bust $2-1/2 Gold Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1796-1807) All-Time Finest List

The early gold coins of the United States are among the most coveted and rarest items in the numismatic world. This is due both to extremely limited original mintages as well as prolific melting that took place during the late 1820s and early 1830s when the bullion value of the coins exceeded their face value. The earliest quarter eagles all rare, with the highest mintage coin having an original issue of under 7,000 pieces. The two 1796s are both extremely rare, the original "No Stars" design in particular. It is not only a one year type coin, but boasts an original mintage of a scant 963 pieces. Even though most of the certified survivors are in the AU-MS range, finding one will be tough as they only come available two or three times per year on average.