In 1850, the Philadelphia Mint produced more than two million gold coins, more than a million of which were the new Liberty Head Double Eagle. This was a $20 gold coin, released after a difficult development process. The coin was introduced a year later, following its smaller gold dollar.
The 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle had a mintage of 252,923 coins, making it the most common of the four mint-specific issues that year. The 1850-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, made at the New Orleans Mint, came in second with a production of 84,000 coins, making it the most minted gold coin that year.
| Coin Type | Year | Mint | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Dollar | 1850 | Philadelphia | 481,953 |
| Liberty Head Quarter Eagle | 1850 | Philadelphia | 252,923 |
| Liberty Head Half Eagle | 1850 | Philadelphia | 64,491 |
| Liberty Head Eagle | 1850 | Philadelphia | 291,451 |
| Liberty Head Double Eagle | 1850 | Philadelphia | 1,170,261 |
In XF (Extremely Fine) to AU (About Uncirculated) categories, the 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle coin is less common than the 1851 Philadelphia Mint strike, but still shouldn’t be a huge challenge for collectors on a budget to find. However, this coin shows its true character in Choice Mint State or higher grades.
Major grading services may have reported more in MS63, as coins graded MS64 and above are rare. Auction data is sparse at this level, and it is speculated that higher-quality coins are usually traded privately through dealers. I would like to learn more about the two MS67 coins reported by NGC.
Market Data and Notable Specimens
Top Populations: PCGS MS65 (1, 10/2024), NGC MS67 (2, 10/2024), and CAC MS64 (1:0 sticker: graded, 10/2024).
Read More: $10 Million Rare Bicentennial Quarters: 8 Top Coins Plus 6 More Over $100K
A leading specimen, PCGS MS64+ CAC #25038627, was sold by Stacks Bowers in June 2013 for $12,161.25 and by DLRC in June 2019 for $18,350. This coin was shiny but had a small blemish under Liberty’s eye, a thin scratch on the back of the neck, and the star 10 was weak.
An NGC MS64 specimen from “The Clara Collection” was sold by Stax in April 2007 for $7,130. Another NGC MS64 specimen was sold by Heritage in July 2003 for $4,830 and in February 2007 for $4,887.50.
Specifications of the 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | United States of America |
| Year of Issue | 1850 |
| Denomination | $2.50 (USD) |
| Mintmark | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage | 252,923 |
| Alloy | .900 Gold, .100 Copper |
| Weight | 4.18 g |
| Diameter | 18.00 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Obverse Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Reverse Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Quality | Business Strike |
FAQ
1. Why the 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is Popular among Collectors?
Rarity, Historical Significance of 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Highlighted by Nov. It is desirable due to 900 gold content. For the initial coins and those that still have their luster, you will get good value too.
2. Can I sell an 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle?
They are one of those where coin collectors can put their trust in addition to auction houses and legitimate coin dealers.
3. Testing my 1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle?
Their weight, diameter, and mintmark all have to be taken into account in order for them to gain authenticity. Instead, the coin should be graded by an experienced numismatic organization such as NGC or PCGS.
