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1864 $2.50 AU50 PCGS

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Price:   
Grade: AU50
Quantity: 1
PCGS Coin #: 7800
Last Update: 8/17/2026
Dealer:  (Terms) Heritage Auctions (HA.com)

Show/Booth: ANA Money Show / Convention Center
 
(Item is available at this booth)
1864 $2 1/2 AU50 PCGS. CAC. The 1864 Liberty Head quarter eagle ranks among the greatest rarities in the long-running series and, by virtually any meaningful measure, it belongs among the four rarest circulation-strike issues for the denomination. Only the celebrated 1854-S and 1856-D unquestionably surpass it in overall importance among regular-issue circulation strikes, while the enigmatic 1841 issue—whose existence remains difficult to reconcile with Mint records—often enters the discussion as well. Whatever the precise ranking, the 1864 quarter eagle is undeniably one of the most elusive coins in the Liberty Head gold series. It remains surprisingly underappreciated relative to its well-documented rarity.      The official mintage is a mere 2,824 pieces, yet even at that low production the surviving population falls dramatically short of expectations. Today, fewer than two dozen circulation strikes can be confirmed in all grades. Some of those survivors suffer indignities common to rare 19th century gold coins, including removed jewelry mounts, filed rims, cleaning, or distracting abrasions. Only four Mint State circulation strikes are certified by the major grading services and another 16 pieces achieve the About Uncirculated grade, not accounting for duplicate grading submissions.      Gold vanished from circulation shortly after specie payments were suspended in late 1861, leaving precious-metal coinage to be hoarded, exported, or melted. Researchers generally believe that nearly the entire 1864 quarter eagle business-strike production was consigned to the melting pot. Few examples circulated during the final years of the war, nor to any meaningful extent afterward.      Unlike the larger gold denominations, quarter eagles enjoyed modest popularity among affluent collectors during the mid-19th century. Those enthusiasts, however, overwhelmingly preferred proofs to circulation strikes. Consequently, almost no contemporary collectors thought to preserve ...
Collectors CornerSM coin information:  (data courtesy of PCGS.com *)
PCGS Coin #: 7800
PCGS Coin Description: 1864 $2.50
Mintage: 2,824
Grade: AU50
PCGS Population: * 4 View
Population (in higher grades): * 7
PCGS Price Guide: * $95,000.00 View
Auction Prices Realized: * Auction Prices Realized
Additional resources: PCGS CoinFacts
PCGS Set Registry:
(Top 3 of 50 composite sets for this coin)
 
  Learn more about Set Registry
Basic U.S. Coin Design Set (1792-present)
Gold Type Set 8 Piece, Circulation Strikes (1839-1933)
Gold Type Set 12 Piece, Circulation Strikes (1839-1933)
* This information is being provided by PCGS and you are encouraged to review the Important Information for each of these items: PCGS Population [View]; PCGS Price Guide [View]; Auction Prices Realized [View].  The PCGS population report, historic compilation of coin prices and auction prices are proprietary to Collectors Universe and remains the property of Collectors Universe.  It is available for personal use to Collectors Corner subscribers only.  Reproduction in any format is strictly prohibited, as is sharing of this import (or any data contained herein).  Also, errors and omissions can occur and accordingly, viewer should recognize these facts and that this information should not be the only source consulted when making a decision about buying or selling coins.

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