1841 $2.50 MS61 Certification #20648615, PCGS #87720

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1841 Quarter Eagle, also known as the "Little Princess" is one of the rarest of all United States coins, with 16 examples known. The 1841 Quarter Eagle was long considered a Proof-only issue, but the large number of circulated examples implied that a small quantity was minted for circulation. Unfortunately, Mint Reports give no indication that such a mintage occurred, however, this is also true for coins such as the 1870-S Half Dime, the 1870-S Silver Dollar, and others. On February 28, 2012, PCGS announced it would distinguish between circulation strike and Proof 1841 Quarter Eagles. This decision, while not unanimous among numismatic experts, represented a major policy shift, with profound implications for value and desirability of an already famous U.S. coin.

PCGS #

87720

Designer

Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

18.00 millimeters

Weight

4.18 grams

Mintage

est. 100

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	12	R-9.5	1 / 147 TIE	1 / 147 TIE
All Grades	1	R-10.0	1 / 147 TIE	1 / 147 TIE
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 147	1 / 147

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	12
All Grades	1
60 or Better	0

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-9.5
All Grades	R-10.0
60 or Better	R-10.1

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	1 / 147 TIE
All Grades	1 / 147 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 147

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	1 / 147 TIE
All Grades	1 / 147 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 147

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS61 PCGS grade	Norweb Family Collection - Bowers & Merena 3/1988:1970, $30,800 – Superior “Auction ‘89” 7/1989:844, $30,800
2	AU58 PCGS grade	MARCG 5/1985:1223, $21,000 – Superior Galleries “Heifetz” 10/1989:3995, $25,300 – Akers “Auction ‘90” 8/1990:1841, $23,000 – R.M. Limited Partnership – Heritage 7/2009:1230, $132,250
3	AU53 PCGS grade	Stephen Baer – Q. David Bowers - Arthur Lamborn (one of two that he owned, per Breen) - B&R "Fairfield" 10/1977:1481, $19,000 - Kreisberg "Windsor" 11/1981:254, $19,500 – Stack’s/Superior “Charles Kramer” 11/1988:115, $25,300 – Superior 5/1989:1751, $25,300 – Superior “Heifetz” 10/1989:3996, $20,350 – B&M “Morgan & Leckar” 11/1998:2157, $74,000 - Superior 1/2004:783, $86,250 - Baltimore Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2011:4758, $132,250
3	AU53 PCGS grade	Arthur Lamborn “Fairfield Collection” (duplicate) - Bowers & Ruddy “Herdman” 12/1977:6406, $17,500 - Heritage 2/2007:4375, $109,250 - Heritage 3/2014:30299, $164,500
5	AU50 estimated grade	Lilly Collection - National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution

#1 MS61 PCGS grade

Norweb Family Collection -
Bowers & Merena 3/1988:1970, $30,800 –
Superior “Auction ‘89” 7/1989:844, $30,800

#2 AU58 PCGS grade

MARCG 5/1985:1223, $21,000 –
Superior Galleries “Heifetz” 10/1989:3995, $25,300 –
Akers “Auction ‘90” 8/1990:1841, $23,000 –
R.M. Limited Partnership –
Heritage 7/2009:1230, $132,250

#3 AU53 PCGS grade

Stephen Baer –
Q. David Bowers -
Arthur Lamborn (one of two that he owned, per Breen) -
B&R "Fairfield" 10/1977:1481, $19,000 -
Kreisberg "Windsor" 11/1981:254, $19,500 –
Stack’s/Superior “Charles Kramer” 11/1988:115, $25,300 –
Superior 5/1989:1751, $25,300 –
Superior “Heifetz” 10/1989:3996, $20,350 –
B&M “Morgan & Leckar” 11/1998:2157, $74,000 -
Superior 1/2004:783, $86,250 -
Baltimore Collection, Part II -
Heritage 10/2011:4758, $132,250

#3 AU53 PCGS grade

Arthur Lamborn “Fairfield Collection” (duplicate) - Bowers & Ruddy “Herdman” 12/1977:6406, $17,500 - Heritage 2/2007:4375, $109,250 - Heritage 3/2014:30299, $164,500

#5 AU50 estimated grade

Lilly Collection -
National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution