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Image courtesy of Global
Certification Services, Inc.
Notes:
Mintmarks are the small letters that identify which Mint struck a
particular coin. In the 1800s, mintmarks were one of the last
details to be added to the dies that were used to strike coins.
Because mintmarks are punched into the die by hand, their position
sometimes varies. In the case of the 1846-D "D over D"
Quarter Eagle, the mintmark punch was first placed too far to the left,
but it received only a light tap from the engraver's hammer. Upon
realizing the error, the engraver placed the mintmark in the proper
position, but remnants of the first "D" are still visible.
The finest 1846-D "D
over D" Quarter Eagles graded by PCGS are 2 AU-58's.
Significant examples:
PCGS AU-58. Ex - Quality Sales Corporation's sale, November
1970, Lot 1550 - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W.
Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 158,
"Repunched Mintmark", illustrated, sold for $6,900.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial
Coins" by Walter Breen
"The PCGS Population
Report, April 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
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