1839 Quarter Eagle - 1839 $2.50 NGC XF45 CAC. Traces of mint luster remain in protected areas of this colorful 1839 Quarter Eagle. This 1839 Quarter Eagle is graded XF45 because all of the details of Libertys hair are plain. The surfaces of this 1839 Quarter Eagle are original, clean, and, for the grade, free of individually distracting abrasions or other marks. The state of preservation is confirmed by CAC indicating that the coin is of premium quality and fully merits the grade assigned.

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.

In its population report, NGC shows 11 1839 Quarter Eagles in XF45 condition with 55 better. At CAC, as of May 2012, there are 3 confirmed at XF45 with 4 better.