1861 Quarter Eagle - 1861 $2.50 Type 1, NGC XF DETAILS. This Civil War dated, Type 1 1861 Quarter Eagle has a Details designation because of a jewelry mount that was removed from the edge. Otherwise the coin is a good example of an Old Reverse quarter eagle. While the centers of the coin are weak, the periphery is strong. Some of the stars have full details, and the dentils on both sides are full. The coin shows even wear, in keeping with the grade. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks.

Christian Gobrecht designed the quarter eagle. 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.

The Old Reverse, Type 1 quarter eagle is many times rarer than the Type 2. Although Details coins are not listed in their population reports, NGC has certified 1,124 Type 2s and only 100 Type 1s.