By CoinWeek Notes …..
The Charlotte Mint struck three coin denominations in 1851: the Gold Dollar, the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, and the Liberty Head Half Eagle. Of those, 14,923 1851-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagles were struck. Three pairs of dies were sent to Charlotte for use in 1851, but only one was deployed. The “C” mintmark rests atop the eagle’s claw on the reverse, practically blending into the main device.
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Charlotte Mint Gold Coin Production in 1851 |
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| 1851-C Gold Dollar | 41,267 | ||
| 1851-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagle | 14,923 | ||
| 1851-C Liberty Head Half Eagle | 49,176 | ||
The 1851-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is scarce in every grade. Combined, the three major grading services–CAC, NGC, and PCGS–report a total of 244 grading events for the coin in all grades ranging from Fine to Mint State 64. The typical certified example grades About Uncirculated, and it’s reasonable to assume that most surviving specimens of this date have come forward. Even the release of the massive “Fairmont Collection“, which Stack’s Bowers has offered judiciously over the past several years, has not resulted in a significant increase of coins for this date.
In Mint State, the issue is rare. PCGS reports seven grading events at MS62 and above, while NGC reports five. CAC has approved just one of these. Only one coin has been certified at the MS64 level.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
The PCGS Mint State population of the 1851-C $2.50 gold coin has increased from seven to 10 since 2013.
Top Population: PCGS MS64 (1, 8/2024), NGC MS64 (1, 8/2024), and CAC MS62 (1:0 stickered:graded, 8/2024).
- PCGS MS64 #41954933: Imaged at PCGS CoinFacts.
- PCGS MS63 #30801334: Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2017, Lot 4090 – $30,550.
- PCGS MS63 #28168926: Stack’s Bowers, November 6, 2013, Lot 2172 – $28,200. Tied for top pop when sold.
- NGC MS62 #3190854-001: Stack’s Bowers, November 14, 2023, Lot 3132 – $12,000.
- PCGS MS62 #06652078: “The James A. Stack Collection,” Stack’s, October 1994, Lot 905. As PCGS MS62 #50098523. “The Grand Lake Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 2009, Lot 2512 – $13,800. As PCGS MS62 #06652078. “The Cherokee County Collection,’ Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2012, Lot 4759 – $13,800. Dingler on insert.
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1850 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1851 |
| Denomination: | $2.50 (USD) |
| Mintmark: | C (Charlotte) |
| Mintage: | 14,923 |
| Alloy: | .900 Gold, .100 Copper |
| Weight: | 4.18 g |
| Diameter: | 18.00 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | Christian Gobrecht |
| REV Designer: | Christian Gobrecht |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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Article written by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek
Nice coin
What a beautiful coin. looking thank you
Always nice to have a Charlotte or Dahlonega coin in your collection. After I win the lottery I will add some. :-)
What a beautiful coin and a great piece of history
Great article
Beautiful
I Sure would like to travel back in time and pick up a handful of each.
It would be truly a stoke of luck to find one of these!
Interesting facts.
Certainly beautiful coins!
Very Nice!
Someday I would love to add a Charlotte mint coin to my collection!
Nice coin, it’d be nice to have one some day
Interesting information. Thanks
gold is good
would be the best coin I own
nice
Beautiful coin!
very exiting and valuable comments here.
Two & a half dollar Coin??
Great article
So rare!!!
Thanks for the updated informative history lessons..Always appreciated
Great article
A really beautiful coin! Great article about the coin as well.
Rad!
Great article