1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

As California gold poured into eastern metropolitan centers, the Philadelphia Mint ramped up production across five gold coin denominations, with the 1851 Liberty Head Double Eagle and the 1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle making up the bulk of the year’s output.

With a mintage of 1,372,748 coins, the 1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is one of the more common 19th-century issues of the series, yet it is still harder to source than the 1852 and 1853 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles.

Most certified examples of the 1851 are in About Uncirculated or Mint State grades. The coin is a conditional rarity in Gem and above.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

The Harry W. Bass, Jr. coin (PCGS MS66 #5652480) was a top pop, pop one coin from the time it was graded (in or around 2000) until sometime between 2015 and 2018, when PCGS certified a single MS67. Overall, the population of this coin has remained stable since the 2010s. In late 2013, NGC reported 40 examples at MS64 with 10 finer. As of October 25, 2024, the NGC MS64 population has risen to just 41, while the number graded finer has risen to 15, five of those being MS64+.

Top Population: PCGS MS67 (1, 10/2024), NGC MS66 (1, 10/2024), and CAC MS67 (1:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).

• NGC MS66 #6815224-003: Stack’s Bowers, June 13, 2023, lot 2056 – $9,600. Horizontal scratch to the left of star 12. Two small vertical marks from the top of Liberty’s head to star 7. On the reverse, there is an apparent lightened area under E of STATES. There is a small diagonal tick in this area. Planchet void between bar and 2.
• PCGS MS66 #5652480: “The Fairfield Collection, Bowers and Ruddy, October 1977, Lot 1524. As PCGS MS66 #5652480. “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV,” Bowers and Merena, November 2000, Lot 177; Heritage Auctions, February 26, 2015, Lot 3206 – $9,400. HW Bass Jr Coll on insert. Top pop, pop one when offered; Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2018, Lot 5193 – $9,000. Pop one, one finer. Blob of discoloration around chin in left obverse field. Discoloration below star 7. On the reverse, dark spot below E of STATES. Diagonal streaks across field above eagle’s head.
• NGC MS65 #6823684-005: Heritage Auctions, December 15, 2023, Lot 3430 – $4,107.60; Stack’s Bowers, March 28, 2024, Lot 7449 – $3,960. A thin vertical streak runs down Liberty’s neck. On the reverse, there is copper-colored toning above and below O of OF.
• PCGS MS65 #81327673: GreatCollections, October 23, 2016, Lot 399779 – View. Discoloration spot below chin. On the reverse, spot below first T of STATES.
• PCGS MS65 #25616094: Stack’s Bowers, May 31, 2016, Lot 14029 – $5,640. Small planchet void at denticles between stars 6 and 7. Small toning spot under A of STATES. Planchet void between eagle’s left wing and arrows. Cluster of depressions between interpunct and A.
• PCGS MS65 #25038798: Stack’s Bowers, May 9, 2013, Lot 1264 – $5,875. Small gouge on cheek. Curved scratch between stars 7 and 8. Die crack on bust truncation above 8. Small ticks to the left of stars 12 and 13. Small tick on bun. On the reverse, a small diagonal hairline scratch from eagle’s head towards second E of STATES. Horizontal scratch below ES. Small tick above branch.
• NGC MS65 #1887198-002: Heritage Auctions, February 24, 2005, Lot 7569 – $5,290. Thin mark to the upper left of star 8.

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1851 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications

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