1839 Quarter Eagle - 1839 $2.50 PCGS AU50. This well struck, eye-appealing Classic Head 1839 Quarter Eagle has muted mint luster within its devices. The coin shows light, even wear on the highest points. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade with a few more abrasion marks on the reverse than the obverse. The scuff marks on the center of both sides are on the holder not the coin. The strike is above average with some details in the centers of the stars and full details on the higher areas of Libertys hair.

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 quarter eagle was minted from 1834 to 1839. 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.

The 1839 quarter eagle is a date that is rarer than one might think based solely on its mintage numbers. In its population report, PCGS shows 12 certified in AU50 condition with 35 better.