1857-O $2.50 (1857-O Quarter Eagle) NGC MS63. This Southern branch mint, mint state 1857-O Quarter Eagle shows not a trace of wear, as expected for the grade. Unlike most pre-Civil War branch mint coins, this piece is sharply struck on both sides including the dentils. The high points of Libertys hair, the centers of the stars, and the lower left of the shield are well struck. The coin is fully lustrous on both sides and free of distracting marks in the field that are worthy of individual mention.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. It was minted from 1840 to 1907, the longest span of any coinage series without any major design modification. In that period of time 11,921,171 coins were minted.

Gobrecht used the coronet motif for his design. It shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her hair is tied in the back with beads as two curls flow down her neck. On the coronet the word LIBERTY is inscribed. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars and the date, which is below the truncation. At the periphery are dentils on both sides of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with wings outstretched looking to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips. The denomination written as 2 D. is below, separated from the inscription by dots.

In 1859 James Longacre, who was now the Mint Chief Engraver, slightly modified the reverse by making the arrowheads smaller and further apart; however, in San Francisco the old reverse was used until 1867. In 1866 it was mandated that the motto IN GOD WE TRUST be added to all coinage large enough to accommodate it. It was decided that the quarter eagle was too small for this modification.

All Southern branch mint gold coins in mint condition are rare and eagerly sought after by collectors and investors. In its population report, NGC shows that this coin is tied for the 2nd finest 1857-O quarter eagle with 7 others in MS63 and 2 better.