1837 $2.50 (1837 Quarter Eagle) NGC MS62. Classic Quarter Eagle. This mint state, Classic Head, No Motto 1837 Quarter Eagle is tied for second finest at NGC. The coin is well struck with full details on Libertys higher curls, the centers of the stars, the reverse rims, and dentils. The coin shows no wear, as expected for a mint state piece; and the surfaces, for the grade, are clean, original, and free of distractions worthy of individual mention. Significant mint luster remains in protected areas on both sides.

Because the gold coinage in circulation was being melted for its gold content, 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 quarter eagle and half eagle 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. 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.

There were several design changes in the series. In 1834 there were two heads, the Small Head and the Booby Head. The next year there was a taller head and a narrow bust. In that year Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke. Christian Gobrecht, his assistant, made the next dies. The 1836 had a Head of 1835 and another with a Head of 1834. No doubt these were made from earlier dies. In 1837 Gobrecht made a new die, which had his own change. The hair slopes back from the brow, distant from the sixth star.

Many XF to AU 1837 quarter eagle pieces exist, with a large number in AU58. Uncirculated specimens are rare. In its population report, NGC shows 19 in MS62 with 4 better. PCGS has 6 in MS62 with 9 better.