1883 $2.50 AU53 Certification #04391714, PCGS #7835

As Garrett and Guth suggest in their "Encyclopedia Of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933", "This date is another in a series of very low-production issues... The 1883 quarter eagle is a very rare coin in all grades... As usual for the low-mintage issues, most 1883 quarter eagles are seen with deeply reflective, prooflike surfaces." An interesting note regarding the 1883 is the die clash marks below the R in LIBERTY which end as a rectangular mark inside Liberty's ear (vertical shield lines [pale gules]). From what I have been able to discern, Proof coins do not have this die clash while business strikes do. This may be a diagnostic for proof versus business strikes, although it is an area of research that I have not yet been able to devote time to. Also the Y in LIBERTY appears to have been repunched low. The survival estimate listed on the PCGS website seems to be out of line with other coins in the series. With a graded population of 166 by PCGS and NGC (including resubmissions) the estimate of 250 total surviving appears inflated. Maybe a typo? 150 (R7.5) would seem to be a more realistic number especially with a total mintage of only 1920 business strikes.

David Akers (1975/88)

Very scarce in all grades. Many deceptive first strikes exist, and some such specimens have been offered as proofs both at auction and privately. This has given rise to the erroneous conclusion that the 1883 is more common as a proof than it is as a business strike. This is not at all true and genuine proofs are really very rare.