1862/1 $2.50 (1862/1 Quarter Eagle) NGC AU53. This Civil War dated 1862/1 Quarter Eagle shows a sharp strike with full details on the highest points of Libertys hair, the centers of the stars, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. Sufficient separation exists between Libertys hair and the front part of the coronet to warrant the grade. Some remaining, muted mint luster is seen within the devices on both sides of the coin.

This date is debated in numismatic circles because the under type on the date is unclear. While the area of roughness could be a 1, it might also be an inverted 2 that was later corrected. In any case, it is listed in most publications as an overdate and is sought after by collectors and specialists.

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 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles 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 its population report, NGC shows 5 1862/1 quarter eagles in AU55 with 38 better.