1792 25C J-13 PCGS #11036

David Hall

There are four known examples of the 1792 quarter pattern struck in white metal. The Norweb coin (called VF35 in the auction, but we think it's better than that) brought $28,600 in November, 1988.

 

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P. Scott Rubin

The 1792 Quarter is the only pattern design created by George Washington’s choice for first Chief Engraver of the Mint, Joseph Wright. Wright died in 1793 in one of the smallpox outbreaks that were all too common in 18th century Philadelphia.

Many believe Wright’s quarter pattern to be the most beautiful early coins of the United States Mint. It is also believed that Wright used is wife as the model for the obverse of the coin. Only one of the four known white metal specimens is in private hands.

The 1792 Quarter Dollar struck in white metal (Judd-13) is a coin that has a known population of only four specimens. These can be divided into two groups one group stuck with a plain edge without a collar and the second is also plain edge but with a collar. There are two known coins in each group. The without collar strikes are represented by a coin now in the collection of the American Numismatic Society and one last owned by the Norweb family and sold in 1988. The strikes with collar have been together possibly since there striking and are now in the collection of the New-York Historical Society.

The New-York Historical Society coins were discovered in 2002, they were not recognized as 1792 patterns when they were put on display by the Society, dealer and colonial expert Anthony Terranova asked to be able to examine the specimens after their appearance in an exhibit of medals and with the help of Stack’s and Michael Hodder they verified their validity. The reverse is slightly rotated on one of these two specimens.