Owner Comments:
1831 25C Small Letters MS64 NGC. B-2, R2. Population (PCGS 54/20, NGC 69/29).
No quarters were struck in 1829 or 1830, and when the denomination resumed production in 1831, the diameter was reduced from 27 mm to 24.3 mm. The weight and alloy were unchanged, which implies that the new quarters were thicker. These changes in diameter were made to conform to the new close collar technology introduced to the Philadelphia Mint. However, Capped Bust halves, which then dominated silver coin production, continued to be struck with lettered edges until the 1836 Reeded Edge halves were produced.
This is the only year in the 1831-1838 Capped Bust quarter series in which the Philadelphia Mint used the Small Letters reverse.
A gorgeous piece with sharp design features. Struck from a rather early state of the Browning-2 dies with the die crack through the reverse letters faint and the fields slightly reflective. Original dark gray with some vibrant blue accents over most of the obverse and reverse periphery. Certainly among the finest known for the die variety.