A survey of 19th century business strike coin
25C DRAPED BUST, LARGE EAGLE (1804-1807)
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
QUARTER DOLLARS - DRAPED BUST |
| Item Description: |
25C 1807 B-2 |
| Full Grade: |
NGC AU 55 |
| Owner: |
BillJones |
Owner Comments:
Today the quarter is the most popular and most important coin in our economy. It is the workhorse coin for the vending machine industry and many day to day transactions.
That was not the case in the early 19th century. In the early 1800s the silver dollar and then the half dollar were the most popular pieces for those who deposited silver at the first U.S. mint to be made into coins. The quarter was produced only intermittently and then in limited quantities. For example after the quarter was introduced in 1796, the next quarter would not be issued until 1804. Then after a short run from 1804 to 1807, the denomination went into another hiatus until 1815. Overall the early quarters are much scarcer than the early half dollars.
This 1807 quarter has dark blue toning with some Proof-like surface on the reverse, especially in the center, which is sharply struck. This is the scarcer Browning 2 variety, and I have learned from early quarter specialists that this is an example of the rare early die state. This piece was once in the collection Virgil Brand.