| Description: |
Deep orange gold with pale rose iridescence and plenty of strong lustre; the stars and
other devices are surrounded by areas of prooflike reflectivity. From a scant circulation
strike mintage for the date of 1,520 pieces, with the present coin being among the finest
examples of the date currently extant. NGC has not certified an 1865 circulation strike
quarter eagle in Mint State—in fact, only 16 examples of the date have been graded by
that organization in any grade. Walter Breen once called circulation strikes of this date
"Rarer than Proofs, unknown Uncirculated,” a statement that is not far off the mark
15 years after his comments reached print. Additionally, Dave Bowers has noted that the
rarity of the 1865 quarter eagle in circulation strike format "is equaled by
relatively few other dates in the entire series.” But enough input from those readily
recognizable numismatic names, for certainly any serious collector or student of the
Liberty quarter eagle series knows first hand the rarity and desirability of the issue. It
may be some time before a similar opportunity (and opportunity it is!) presents itself
anywhere in numismatics, so please plan your bidding strategy accordingly! |
