1805 Quarter Eagle NGC Good Details. All early gold is rare, and quarter eagles are often among the scarcest issues among the early gold coins. Most survivors tend to be in the EF and AU grades, an indication that they were saved by collectors, or taken out of circulation before they were melted or exported. Finding heavily circulated coins is extremely difficult, but does represent an opportunity to obtain an early gold coin at a reasonable cost. As such, the present coin might be the perfect opportunity for someone who would like to own an early gold coin, dated back to the early 19th century, without paying six digit prices.

Only a single die pair is known to have struck 1805 quarter eagles, and its mintage is usually estimated at just 1,781. This does place it in a very limited group of coins with mintages under 2,000, making it an important coin regardless of grade. Of the original mintage, perhaps as few as 100 coins are still known to exist in all grades, including the present piece, which very well could have spent its time as a pocket piece. However, it would require a relative long time to wear down to the present grade level, and if this coin could talk, it sure could tell some very interesting stories.

While the present coin certainly does not win any prizes for beauty, we still like it, and we expect the next owner will do so as well. Certified in one of the recently introduced NGC holder most of the detail remains visible, and the important date is bold. All lettering is easily readable, and to us the coin gives a better impression than just good. The scratches which are noted by NGC are not distracting, and are to be expected for a 200 year old coin in this condition. A great show-and-tell piece of American history!