Classic Head Quarter Eagle

Classic Head Quarter Eagles are readily available in all grades through Extra Fine, but are elusive in mint-state and rare in gem condition (most of these coins saw heavy use).
Specifications ...

Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839
By the 1830s, melting of U.S. gold coins in Europe had reached fever pitch. National Archives records document one 1831 episode in Paris, describing the destruction of 40,000 half eagles in a single melt. U.S.

1834 Classic Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
The Classic Head design appeared on the quarter eagle from 1834 through 1839, with 968,228 coins produced. This coin was designed by Engraver William Kneass.

1837 Classic Head Quarter Eagle
Classic Head quarter eagles have grown immensely in popularity in the last few years. And with good reason.

The present offering presents an opportunity to begin or add to a specialized set of the Classic Head quarter eagles 1834-1839. As our notes reveal, and as other sources also indicate, many varieties are exceedingly rare.

The Classic Head half-eagle (and its little sibling the Classic Head Quarter Eagle) were the first U.S. gold coins to be struck at branch mints. In 1838, the Charlotte mint struck a fairly small (17,179) number of half-eagles.

Capped Bust to Left Quarter Eagle (1808)
Capped Head to Left Quarter Eagle (1821-1834)
Classic Head Quarter Eagle (1834-1839)
Liberty Head Quarter Eagle (1840-1907)
Indian Head Quarter Eagle (1908-1929) ...

Mint Director Samuel Moore instructed William Kneass to prepare enough dies to accommodate the expected demand for the new lighter weight coins. Kneass' 1834 Classic Head quarter eagle was easily identified by the missing motto on the reverse.

There are no famous rarities among Classic Head quarter eagles, although the 1838-C, with its low mintage of 7,880 pieces, must be counted as elusive, especially as contrasted to the most prolific issue of the era, ...

See also: Gold, Coin, Eagle, Classic Head, Quarter