1848 $2.50 (1848 Quarter Eagle) No CAL. NGC MS61. Since this impressive 1848 Quarter Eagle is a mint state coin, not a trace of wear can be found on the high points of the design. The strike is full and sharp on all of the devices on both sides. There are full details on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair, the eagles feathers, the shield, and the dentils. Bright mint luster shimmers from the coins surfaces.

There are two types of quarter eagles for this year. The first, the present coin, is the regularly minted coin. The second was marked CAL. to indicate that the gold used came from California and was the excess that went unused in making medals for Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott.

The coin was design by Christian Gobrecht. The obverse shows a close profile of Liberty facing left. She is wearing a tiara or coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is tied in the back with a string of beads, and two curls flow down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below. Both sides of the coin have dentils at the periphery. The reverse has a heraldic eagle with wings raised up, its head turned to the left. In its talons it holds an olive branch, symbol of peace, and arrows, symbol of preparedness. The required inscription, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA interrupted by the wing tips, surrounds the eagle. The denomination written as 2 D. is below.

The quarter eagle design lasted from 1840 to 1907 without major modification making it a familiar American motif. It was obviously a design that was created to last for decades. Even the addition of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST in 1866 did not affect the quarter eagle. It was considered too small a coin to hold the motto.

The 1848 quarter eagle had an original mintage of 6,500. This figure does not include the CAL. marked pieces. In its population report, NGC has certified 8 others in MS61 with 9 better. At PCGS there is only 1 at MS61 with 4 better. These numbers do not account for crossovers and resubmissions. This coin is rare and currently in demand.