Draped Bust Quarter Eagles 1796-1807 Coin Guide
Back to Coin
Encyclopedia Index
Draped Bust Quarter Eagles 1796-1807
At the turn of the 19th century, two and a half dollars represented a
considerable sum of money-five days wages for the average U.S. Mint
employee. It was unlikely however, that anyone outside the Philadelphia
Mint would see that amount in the form of the new quarter eagle coin: so
few were made, and fewer still entered circulation. The denomination may
as well not have existed at all. A few large Northeastern banks did
occasionally order quarter eagles, but apparently more as a whim than out
of necessity, as most remained in their vaults.
Although authorized by the Mint Act of 1792, by all appearances the
coin was an unwanted stepchild: it was the last denomination made, and
then only in such small quantities as to be of little use in commerce. The
cent, half dollar, and half eagle took center stage during this era-they
were the real workhorses. The paucity of early quarter eagles has a flip
side for numismatists however, as these coins-in their many variations-are
among the rarest in numismatics, and have both fascinated and frustrated
collectors and researchers for years.
The first quarter eagle-the 1796 Draped Bust without stars-was designed
by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. The obverse depicts Liberty facing right,
wearing a soft cap, with the inscription LIBERTY above, and the date
below. The cap was long thought to be a liberty or Phrygian cap, taken
from an ancient Roman model. However, even Mint Director Samuel Moore
identified this cap in 1825 as a fashionable headdress of the 1790s, and
indeed there are portraits of Martha Washington wearing just such a hat.
The coin's reverse features a heraldic eagle-Scot's adaptation of the
Great Seal of the United States-with clouds arcing from wing to wing,
enclosing stars, with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the
margin.
These first quarter eagles lacked stars on the obverse because they
were placed on the reverse as part of the new Heraldic eagle design.
However, the half eagle and eagle were still using the small eagle
reverse, with stars on their respective obverses. Whether due to artistic
taste or uniformity of design, the quarter eagle obverse received stars
for the last coinage of 1796. With Tennessee's recent admission to the
Union, 16 stars were on the obverse, 8 left, 8 right. After Tennessee was
admitted however, Mint Director Boudinot realized the impracticality of
adding a star for each new state. Thereafter, only 13 stars were to be
used, symbolizing the original states. The No Stars variety of this year
stands alone as a distinct separate type, but date collectors generally
include it as a part of the extended series.
The 1797 issue had thirteen stars on the obverse, 7 left, 6 right. The
reverse of the coin though, was from the previous year-it had sixteen
stars. Thus began the dance of changing obverse and reverse dies for this
design. The position of the obverse stars changed almost every year,
mimicking the arrangement on the more popular coins. The reverses
genuflected within several years, reflecting the Mint's haste or fear of
waste. Reverse stars ranged from thirteen to sixteen, and not in any
particular order, at that. Many reverse dies were also used to mint dimes
when quarter eagle production was completed.
Only 20 examples are believed to survive of the 1797 issue out of a
mintage of 427 pieces. The 1798 issue saw two reverses-with either four or
five berries on the olive branch. The Five Berry reverse is significantly
scarcer, but receives little attention, as the date is very scarce
regardless of variety. Next came the 1802-one of the few so-called
"common" dates in this series-which is actually an overdate, but
very faint. Following was the 1804, with both thirteen and fourteen star
reverses. The thirteen star variety is extremely rare and without question
the key to the series: Only nine examples are believed to exist in all
grades. The 1805 is one of the more frequently encountered issues, but its
mintage of 1,781 pieces would certainly thrust this date to the forefront
of almost any other series of U.S. coins. There are two overdates for
1806, one over a 4 and the other over a 5, the latter being considerably
scarcer. The 1807 is the most available issue of the design, and is
generally sought by those seeking a high grade example for a type set.
Draped Bust quarter eagles saw production in eight years between 1796
and 1807, totaling 19,487 coins, encompassing eleven recognized varieties.
More rarities are in this short-lived series than common dates. Few
collectors in recent years have attempted to complete a set of these
coins-most consider themselves lucky to locate a problem-free VF-AU
example at a reasonable price. The With Stars issue is rarer than the No
Stars variety, but it is not as widely recognized, being overshadowed by
the No Stars' significance as a one year type.
No proofs were made, but several 1796 No Stars coins have enough
mirror-like finish to support the theory that they were included in
presentation sets of coins distributed on June 1 of that year-celebrating
Tennessee's admission to the Union.
Counterfeits are virtually unknown, but there is an interesting piece
with a similar design associated with the series-the Kettle token. These
are actually brass gaming counters made in England, and while vaguely
resembling the Draped Bust design, anyone familiar with a genuine quarter
eagle will not be fooled. They are dated 1803, a significant date for
quarter eagles, as the annual Director's Report shows a delivery of 423
coins in that year (actually dated 1802). The lack of quarter eagles with
the 1803 date makes the dated Kettle tokens an appealing adjunct to the
series.
Grading this design can be quite a challenge, as striking weakness is
often seen in the center of both sides. When such softness is encountered,
high grade pieces must be graded by the mint luster remaining. Well-struck
coins will first show friction on the cap and the highest point of the
hair on the obverse. On the reverse, rub will first show on the wing tips
of the eagle and on the clouds.
The Draped Bust design was current for eleven years, until Mint
Director Patterson ordered John Reich to redesign all denominations in
1807. Reich's improved design, first used on the quarter eagle in 1808,
lasted only a year, and while Scot's Draped Bust motif may have been
retired prematurely, it remains one of the most beloved of all designs on
early gold coins.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Diameter: 20.6 millimeters Weight: 4.37 grams Composition; 0.9167 gold,
.0833 copper Edge: Reeded Net Weight: .1288 ounce pure gold
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Akers, David W., United States Gold Coins,
Volume II, Quarter Eagles 1796-1929, Paramount Publications, Englewood,
OH, 1975. Breen, Walter, Varieties of United States Quarter Eagles, Hewitt
Brothers, Chicago. Breen, Walter, Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of
U.S. and Colonial Coins, F.C.I. Press/Doubleday, New York, 1988. Taxay,
Don, The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Arco Publishing Co., New York, 1966.
Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.
|
|
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://kitconet.com/images/quotes_special.gif)