1831 $2.50

Weight

4.37 g

Diameter

18.2 mm

Thickness

NA

Material

91.7% Gold, 8.3% Copper

Shape

Round

Edge Type

Reeded

Technique

Struck

Front design

Liberty Head facing right, wearing a coronet.

Back design

Eagle perched on a branch, facing left, with a shield on its breast.

Year of Minting

1831

Ruler

NA

Mint location

Philadelphia

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

Coin alignment

Inscriptions

LIBERTY | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 2 1/2

Context

: The 1831 Proof Quarter Eagle is an extremely rare coin. There are probably not more than five true Proofs of this issue. Historically, Proof specimens of this year have been offered at auction at a ratio of about one out of every five listings, but most of the coins described as proofs are really prooflike business strikes. With a mintage of only 4,520, and most of the coins well struck, it appears that many of the business strikes were show prooflike surfaces. The 1831 Quarter Eagle is known in three die states. At some point in the year, the dies clashed, then the dies were lapped to remove the evidence of the clashing. This lapping may have added a prooflike surface to some of the last coins struck. This is one date that should be certified in order to prove it is a true Proof striking. The auction records I have reviewed dating back to 1855 show that ninety-six out of five hundred and seven auction sales claim to have been for Proof specimens. This number is obviously overstated because of the many Prooflikes being offered as Proofs.

Rarity

Ultra rare

Coin type

Capped Bust $2.5 (1808-1834)

In circulation

NA

Demonetized

No

Marketplace listings

0