1839/8 Quarter Eagle - 1839/8 $2.50 NGC AU58. This rare, near-Mint State, 1839/8 Classic Head Quarter Eagle has exceptionally clean and original surfaces with just a trace of wear on the highest points that keeps the piece from an Uncirculated grade. The coin, which comes in an old NGC holder, has an above average strike with details seen in the centers of the stars on the right side and the dentils and rims on the reverse. Some remaining muted mint luster is found in protected areas on both sides of the coin. The defective 9 in the date is clear and easy to see.

The 1839 quarter eagle is the scarcest Classic Head in the series. Mostly found in grades of XF and lower AU, it is hard to find above AU55 and rare in Uncirculated condition. The normal color of the coin is light to medium greenish, yellowish gold. Most researchers today feel that the so called over date is actually repunched date. There is only one die pair for the date.

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 rather large mintage for the series of 27,021 belies the rarity of this coin. Fewer 1839 examples have been certified than any other date in the series. In its population report, NGC shows 15 in AU58 with 8 better. PCGS has 16 with 5 better, and these numbers do not account for crossovers or resubmissions.