By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
After a two-year hiatus, the quarter dollar returned in 1831. For its return, United States Mint Chief Engraver William Kneass modified John Reich’s Capped Bust Quarter design in 1831 to accommodate smaller planchets. The close collar die allowed for a better quality coin with a raised rim to protect the design elements. Notably absent on the reverse is the ribbon over the eagle’s head that carried the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
In terms of production, the quarter-dollar denomination saw higher mintages during this period. As a result, every date of this type is within reach of the average collector, with prices ranging from $200 for coins grading Very Fine to about $1,300 for coins About Uncirculated condition.
Mint State examples exist for all five published varieties, although the Browning-5 is rare in all grades.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Browning-1 (B-1)
A second MS67 example was added to the NGC census in 2024.
Top Population: PCGS MS66 (5, 11/2024). NGC MS67 (2, 8/2024), and CAC MS66 (2:0 stickered:graded, 11/2024).
R-1. O/F in OF. No period after denomination. Only two lines make up the vertical lines of the federal shield. The eagle is also depicted without its tongue lanģued. Evidence of die rust is present above the eagle’s head. The reverse die for this Red Book variety was carried over from 1833. The 1834 B-2 is also listed in the Cherrypicker’s Guide as FS-901.
In Die State III, there is an arcing obverse crack from the rim beneath the first star across Liberty’s bust and hair through the final star to the rim.
Walter Breen believed that these dies were also used to strike a few Proofs, citing the DuPont, Newman, Mougey, and Newcomb coins as examples. In their 2009 Philadelphia Americana sale, Bowers and Merena noted that the Clapp-Eliasberg specimen might belong to that group.
- PCGS MS66 #45621373: “The Arthur C. Fritz Collection,” Lester Merkin, October 1966, Lot 263; “The New York Connoisseur’s Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, March 2006, Lot 631; Stack’s, March 2009, Lot 3768. As PCGS MS66 #45621373. Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2023, Lot 3686 – $30,000.
- PCGS MS66 CAC #34980734: Heritage Auctions, January 14, 2022, Lot 4594 – $43,200. Olive and apricot hue throughout.
- NGC MS66* #3604203-001: “Colonel” E.H.R. Green; Green estate to Eric P. Newman and B.G. Johnson (dba St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co. As “Uncirculated, very brilliant.” Eric P. Newman, $3,00. As NGC MS66* #2037631-034. “The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part II,” November 15, 2013, Lot 33354 – $30,550. Newman novelty insert. As NGC MS66* #3604203-001. Stack’s Bowers, October 2015, Lot 27 – $26,437.50. Newman on insert. Apparently, this coin developed gold, cerulean blue, and violet toning during Newman’s ownership.
- PCGS MS65+PL CAC #37577829: As NGC MS66*PL. Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2009, Lot 3733 – $29,900; Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015, Lot 4084 – $28,200. As PCGS MS65+PL CAC #37577829. Heritage Auctions, February 20, 2020, Lot 3049 – $31,200; Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2024, Lot 4084 – $40,800.
- NGC MS65 #3164469-003: Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 1127 – $12,500 Reserve Not Met. Gold and rust toning.
1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Browning-2 (B-2)
R-4. Same obverse as Browning-1. The top left star (star 7) is repunched. Period after denomination.
In 1992, the condition census was MS65, MS60 (2), AU48, and AU50(4). One of the AU50 examples was owned by collector Robert W. Miller, Sr., whose collection was sold in 1992 by Bowers and Merena (Lot 134). Today, there are enough Choice or better Mint State examples to fill the top of the census. The Eugene H. Gardner coin graded MS65 CAC (pictured above) is accompanied by two other MS65 coins – both upgrades.
- PCGS MS65 CAC #05942894: Rare Coins of New Hampshire, April 2007; “Eugene H. Gardner Collection,” Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30354 – $24,675; Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4159 – $16,800; Heritage Auctions, August 4, 2020, Lot 3920 – $15,000; Heritage Auctions, November 20, 2020, Lot 3314 – $13,200; Heritage Auctions, April 22, 2021, Lot 3403 – $13,200; “The Bender Family Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 9, 2023, Lot 3724 – $13,200. Reholdered. Bender Collection on insert. Mottled toning over latte-colored surfaces.
- NGC MS65 #3843752-001: As PCGS MS64 CAC #15101200. Heritage Auctions, March 25, 2010, Lot 759 – $9,200. As NGC MS65 #3843752-001. Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2015, Lot 4553 – $11,162.50. Antique rainbow toning in blue, violet, green, and gold.
- NGC MS65 #1723003-004: As NGC MS64. Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2001, Lot 6880 – $3,220. As NGC MS65 #1723003-004. Heritage Auctions, June 2, 2005, Lot 5939 – $8,050. Upgraded by one point. Dappled grey and peach toning with cobalt and gold toning around upper periphery and date.
- PCGS MS64 #39424767: Heritage Auctions, October 14, 2020, Lot 18132 – $5,280. Darkly toned.
- PCGS MS64 CAC #17233900: Heritage Auctions, July 9, 2015, Lot 3095 – $8,225. Mottled toning.
- PCGS MS64 #21011620: “The Aspen Collection,” Heritage Auctions, July 30, 2008, Lot 191 – $9,775; Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2014, Lot 4130 – $7,050. Blast White. Strikethrough on Liberty’s neck.
1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Browning-3 (B-3)
R-3. Tip of star 7 points to Liberty’s uppermost curl. Obverse also used for Browning-4 and Browning-5.
- NGC MS64+ CAC #2037631-036: “Colonel” E.H.R. Green; Green Estate to Eric P. Newman/B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman, $2.50. As NGC MS64+ CAC #2037631-036. “The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part II,” Heritage Auctions, November 15, 2013, Lot 33174 – $17,037.50.
1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Browning-4 (B-4)
R-1. Tip of star 7 points to Liberty’s uppermost curl. Obverse also used for Browning-3 and Browning-5. The “C” of the denomination is centered under the stem. In Die State III, the coin has clash marks from the reverse shield at Liberty’s ear and neck area.
This is the most frequently encountered die marriage of the date and is available in Gem to Superb Gem condition.
- NGC MS67 #192004-001: “Auction ’90,” Superior Galleries, Lot 1078 – $100,000. Offered as finest known of the date, possibly finest Capped Bust Quarter; Stack’s Bowers, June 18, 2024, Lot 3054 – $72,000. NGC Gen 4.0 Holder. Green and Apricot toning throughout.
- NGC MS67 #3061438-001: As NGC MS66 #688375-005. Heritage Auctions, April 19, 2012, Lot 5086 – $26,450. As NGC MS67 #3061438-001. Heritage Auctions, April 24, 2014, Lot 5578 – $70,500. Upgraded by one point; Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5331 – $64,625. Deeply toned in blue, violet, and orange.
- PCGS MS66 #38399571: Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4160 – $31,200. Cobalt and green toning along the periphery.
- PCGS MS66 #02808998: RARCOA; D. Brent Pogue Family. As PCGS MS66 #02808998. “The D. Brent Pogue Family Collection, Part I”, Stack’s Bowers / Sotheby’s, May 2015, Lot 1087 – $58,750. Champagne and orange toning. Light hairlines in left obverse field. Die crack on reverse from eagle’s right wing tip to rim. Crack through UNITED STATES OF. Crack across leaves and above 2.
- NGC MS66 #1731142-002: Legend Numismatics to Haig Koshkarian, by sale, June 1997; “The Haig A. Koshkarian Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, March 9, 2004, Lot 63 – $20,700; “The Eugene H. Garnder Collectio, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, October 28, 2015, Lot 98404 – $22,325; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2017, Lot 3063 – $19,200. Rainbow toning on both sides. Fingerprint across lower obverse.
1834 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Browning-5 (B-5)
R-6+. Tip of star 7 points to Liberty’s uppermost curl. Obverse also used for Browning-3 and Browning-4. The Browning-5 die marriage is the scarcest of all 1834 Capped Bust Quarter Die marriages, with most known examples grading Fine or lower. The R. Thayer Sheets coin is an outlier, coming in at PCGS MS62.
- PCGS MS62 #83058449: “Auction ’84,” Superior Galleries, July 1984, 113; “The R. Thayer Sheets Yorktown Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 4, 2017, Lot 15369 – $6,462.50. Dark antique rainbow toning.
- NGC MS62: John Jay Pittman.
- PCGS XF45 #15586073: Heritage Auctions, April 1, 2024, Lot 53098 – $1,080.
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Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1834 |
| Denomination: | Quarter Dollar (25 Cents USD) |
| Mintmark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 286,000 |
| Alloy: | .8924 Silver, .1076 Copper |
| Weight: | 6.74 g |
| Diameter: | 24.30 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | John Reich (revised by William Kneass) |
| REV Designer: | John Reich (revised by William Kneass) |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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