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Images courtesy of Superior
Galleries
Notes:
The finest "No Stars" 1796 Quarter Eagle graded by PCGS is a single MS-65.
Significant examples:
Brilliant Uncirculated. Ex -
Stack's "The Marvin Taichert Collection of U.S. Type Coins", May
9, 2001, Lot 34, "Breen-1, Hilt-2b", plated, sold for
$92,000.00 Ex John Whitney Walter Collection (Stack's, May 1999,
lot 1788)
(Illustrated below).
Ex - Superior Galleries 2000 ANA Mid-Winter Sale).
PCGS MS-60. Ex -
Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc.'s sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr.
collection, October 1999, Lot 261 - Bowers and Merena Galleries "The Rarities
Sale", July 31, 2002, Lot 691, illustrated, not sold
Recent appearances:
PCGS AU-58 (illustrated above). Superior
Galleries' September 1999
"Pre-Long Beach" Sale, Lot 1845
NGC AU-58. Ex -
Stack's "Grant Pierce" Sale - Stack's "R.L. Miles,
Jr." Sale, October 1968, Lot 79, sold for $7,000.00 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles "The
Fairchild Family Trust Collection" Sale, May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1228,
illustrated, sold for $86,250.00, where it was described as follows: "1796. No stars on obverse. NGC
graded AU-58. Here is a classic rarity in high grade, this is the Miles
coin from the Stack's sale in 1968, and prior to that in the Grant Pierce
sale. This particular coin is exceptionally well struck, including the E
of LIBERTY which is almost always found weakly struck (being behind the
eagle's tail feathers). The reverse stars are exceptional too, each boldly
executed and preserved. The Philadelphia Mint struck only 963 of these,
and most entered circulation or were eventually lost or remelted. The no
stars obverse design lasted less than a year, and stars were added late in
1796, making this one of the rarest and shortest lived type coins produced
at the Philadelphia Mint. NGC has graded 18 this high with just 11 graded
higher. As to the surfaces, they show minimal handling marks and this coin
is clean for the grade. In the color department it is untoned, no sign of
the copper shades frequently seen these days, just rich yellow gold. We
note some trivial adjustment marks on the upper right side of the shield,
but they are not deep or problematic."
PCGS AU-58. Ex - Heritage Numismatic
Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer 2001 Long Beach Signature Sale", May
31-June 2, 2001, Lot 8824, "No stars", illustrated, sold for
$60,375.00 From the Dr. Robert W. Dingle Collection
PCGS AU-55. Ex - Bowers and Merena
Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale",
November 20-21, 2000, Lot 114, "Breen-6113", illustrated, sold
for $50,600.00 Purchased
from Abner Kreisberg, April 1973
"Net F-15". Ex -
Jay Roe collection - Bowers and Merena Galleries "The Rarities
Sale", July 31, 2002, Lot 692, illustrated,
"...Breen-6113, B-1...cleaned and repaired...", sold for $13,800.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial
Coins" by Walter Breen
"The PCGS Population
Report, April 2004" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
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