Owner Comments:
The 1840-O Quarter Eagle is the fifth most rare of the denomination. The Louisiana Purchase has two different Winter Varieties, this one being variety three, which is a scarce variety, especially in higher grade. See the Jefferson's Change collection for the other MS62 coin, variety one, believed to be from the Norweb Collection.
There are an estimated 8 - 10 known in Mint State. PCGS 7/0, NGC 5/1. So clearly, both of these original PCGS MS62 coins are condition census.
This coin, variety three, could be the second finest known of this rare date as it is slightly nicer than the other, a fact suggested in the description in the catelog (Goldberg, May 2006). It has incredible luster on both sides and an intense greenish gold color that is completely original. This is a vertical line below the nose in the field for identification purposes. It is clearly a variety three due to the die lines above the "ST" in STATES.