Description |
1804 25C AU55 S NGC. CAC. B-1, R.3. Ex: "Col." E.H.R. Green. There were no quarter dollars struck from early 1797 until 1804, a gap of nearly eight years. The last-struck quarters were the 1796 dated Draped Bust, Small Eagle pieces that were coined in February 1797. The 1804 quarters used the then-current Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle design that was introduced in 1798 on the dimes and silver dollars. By 1804 that design appeared on all of the silver denominations - half dimes, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars. There are two die marriages for 1804 quarters. Both were struck using the same reverse die. The obverse die for 1804 B-1 has a visible die defect from the field and in between stars 8 and 9, touching an inside point of star 9. That is the quickest and easiest way to differentiate the two varieties. This example is struck from the latest die state known. There are heavy clash marks on the obverse through BER of LIBERTY and below the bust from star 13 to the neck. Clash marks can also be seen on the reverse from the clouds to OF. There is a crack from the rim under the date through the right side of the 0 in the date to the bust. A light obverse die crack can be seen between stars 11 and 12, from the rim into the field just past those stars. A delicate reverse die crack connects the top of the letters STA in STATES, and another joins the tops of AMERICA. The Eric P. Newman specimen is the Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint plate coin. Both the obverse and reverse are plated in color on page 18 in the book. The next page has close-up photos of the die crack from the rim through the 0 into the bust of Liberty, and the die crack above the letters STA in STATES. There is also a great photo of this coin with the obverse laid over the reverse. This overlay photo is extremely helpful in understanding the origin and location of the clash marks. Late die state 1804 B-1 quarters, with the obverse die crack, are substantially rarer than early state pieces without the crack. Plated in Ard W. Browning's 1925 reference, this piece is likely from his personal collection. Although outside the Condition Census, the Newman 1804 B-1 quarter ranks among the 20 finest survivors, and is important for its combination of quality, eye appeal, and rarity, as well as the Green-Newman pedigree. The obverse is naturally toned in various shades of gold, blue, and purple. The reverse is a light to medium silver, with peripheral gold toning and blue accents at the dentils. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $60.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $82,250.00 . Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com. |