2 1/2 Dollar Gold Quarter Eagles 1796 to 1929
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The eagle was a base-unit of denomination issued only for gold coinage by the United States Mint. The eagle was the largest of the four main decimal base-units of denomination used for circulating coinage in the United States. These four main base-units of denomination were the cent, the dime, the dollar, and the eagle. The eagle base-unit of denomination served as the basis of the gold quarter-eagle, the gold half-eagle, the eagle, and the double-eagle coins. The one dollar and three dollar gold coins are part of the Dollar base unit.
The
Quarter Eagle Gold 2 1/2 Dollar coin was minted from 1796 to 1929.
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The first quarter eagle, the 1796 Draped Bust or Capped Bust was designed by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. The obverse depicts Miss Liberty facing right, wearing a cap, with the inscription LIBERTY above, and the date below. The reverse features a eagle behind Scot’s adaptation of the Great Seal of the United States with clouds arcing from wing to wing, enclosing stars, with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the edge. Production in eight years between 1796 and 1807 totaled only 19,487 coins.
1802 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
1808 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
Only 2,710 1808 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar were struck in 1808. Estimates are that fewer than fifty 1808 quarter eagles exist today in all grades making this coin very scarce and expensive. $16,000.00 to 85,000.00 depending on grade.
1829 Capped Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
The new Capped Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar coin was also designed by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. This coin was produced from 1921 to 1834. Scot’s thick-necked Liberty on the new 1821 quarter eagle wears a headdress typically worn by women around the turn of the 19th century. Thirteen widely spaced stars surround the bust, with the date below. An eagle with outstretched wings graces the reverse, and the motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM appears above. Both are surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 2½ D. From 1821 through 1834, 42,065 Capped Head quarter eagles were made.
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. Kneass's design depicted Miss Liberty facing left, her curly hair cascading down the back of her neck, tied by a headband inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars surround the bust, with the date below. The reverse features an eagle perched on an olive branch and clutching three arrows, encircled by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 2 ½ D.
1847 Liberty or Coronet Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
The Liberty or Coronet Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar coin was produced from 1840 to 1907. The design featured a large head of Miss Liberty facing left, wearing a wide coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Her hair is pulled back in a bun and held in place by a string of pearls. Thirteen stars are placed around the edge, representing the original colonies, with the date below. The eagle on the reverse was essentially the same one that had been on quarter eagles since 1808.
Between 1840 and 1907, a total of 11,921,171 Coronet quarter eagles were struck at five mints: Philadelphia, PA (no mintmark), Charlotte, NC (C), Dahlonega, GA (D), New Orleans, LA (O), and San Francisco, CA (S). Mintmarks can be found on the lower reverse beneath the eagle.
1910 Indian Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
The Indian Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar was produced from 1908 to 1929 and designed by sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt. The obverse depicts a realistic-looking Indian brave in a war bonnet, with the date, thirteen stars and the motto LIBERTY forming a circle around this central device. The reverse shows an eagle perched and an olive branch. The inscriptions on the reverse side, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST and 2 1/2 Dollars.
2 1/2 Dollar Gold Quarter Eagles 1796 to 1929
1912 Indian Head Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar
The best place to purchase
Quarter Eagle 2 1/2 Gold Dollar coins is at eBay. When buying gold coins be prepaired to pay high prices as they are very rare in any condition. However, there are good bargains to be found on eBay.
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