1861 Quarter Eagle Type 2  - 1861 $2.50 Type 2 NGC MS61 CAC. This Mint State, Civil War-dated 1861 Quarter Eagle glistens with bright mint luster within its devices. The coin is patinated at its edges, more so on the reverse. The colors and toning attest to its originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no individually distracting abrasion marks or other problems. The strike is exceptional with full details on Libertys hair, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. The dentils are full and sharp on both sides. The CAC sticker affirms that the coin is a premium quality piece that fully deserves the assigned grade.
 
Christian Gobrechts quarter eagle was produced without substantial modification from 1840 to 1907, the longest span in any United States coinage series. It uses the Coronet design which shows Liberty in profile facing left, her hair tied tightly in beads, except for two curls one down the back of her neck and the other on the side below her ear, with the word LIBERTY inscribed on the coronet. She is surrounded by thirteen stars, and the date is below the truncation. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle facing left holding arrows and olive branch it its talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs around it, interrupted by the wing tips, and the denomination 2 D. is below. The denomination is separated from the legend with 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. Use of the new reverse created Type 2.  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.

In its population report as of October 2013, CAC has confirmed 8 1861 Quarter Eagles at the MS61 grade level. Less than 4% of all 1861 quarter eagles certified by NGC and PCGS have been given CAC stickers.