1837 Quarter Eagle - 1837 $2.5 NGC MS60. In its population report, NGC shows 8 1837 quarter eagles certified at the Uncirculated MS60 grade level.

Here is a Mint State 1837 Classic Head quarter eagle that boasts a good strike and lots of original mint luster in protected areas. Full details are found on the higher areas of Libertys hair curls, the centers of most of the stars, and on the reverse rims. The coin is a mixture of light and dark yellow-gold, which shows its originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no individual abrasion marks that are worthy of description. Nor are there any other problems on this eye-appealing piece.

The Classic Head quarter eagle was minted from 1834 to 1839. Designed by William Kneass, it shows a head of Liberty in profile facing left. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed headband that reveals the curly hair on top of her head, which also flows down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below. Dentils are around the periphery of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with its head facing left. In its talons are olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips. The denomination, written as 2 D., is below.

Because the gold coinage in circulation was being melted for its bullion value, Mint Director Samuel Moore ordered William Kneass to design quarter and half eagles with lower weight and fineness. He also told Kneass to omit the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on the new Classic Head coins so they would be easily identified as being made with less gold content. This action prevented the older gold coins from being exported, and the public was thus induced to bring them into the Mint for recoinage.

The Classic Head motif chosen by Kneass is a copy of John Reichs Large Cent design of 1808-1814 and the half cents of 1825-1836. The eagle design is also similar to an earlier Reich eagle designed for gold coins.