Gold Quarter Eagle

 

 

In this episode of Spare Change coin collecting guide we discuss the gold half and quarter eagle Indian Head coin.  We show you what to collect and the history behind this beautiful incuse designed gold US coin.

250Quarter Eagle Rev 150x150 Gold Quarter Eagle

Why should you want the $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle for your collection? They are one the most fascinating coins ever minted in the United States, and at today's prices they are a bargain. Buying now will save you money and years from now you will make a good profit. These coins are usually in high demand and highly prized by collectors.

Move Mouse Over Coin to see Other Side


The Quarter Eagle is a $2.50 gold coin that was produced by the U.S. Mint from 1796 to 1929.

Mintage numbers were fairly small when compared to some of the other denominations of gold US coins, therefore there are quite a few scarce and rare dates in this series.

Investing in the stock market is a risky business, and other markets are just as uncertain. That is why investing in gold coins is always a smart decision. Gold is one of the most stable markets there is, and you can be sure that your future is secure financially. It's the perfect way to save for retirement as well!

Your collection may contain a few coins, or you may have been collecting for so long that you have hundreds of highly prized coins. Whether you have just started or you are an old pro, investing in the $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle is a good move to make.

The more you add to your collection, especially of older coins, the more it will be worth now and in the future. Many people invest in gold coins strictly for the purpose of having a secure financial future or money for retirement.

Turban Head $2.50 Gold Coin (1796-1807)


Turban Head
$2.50 Gold US Coin

1796 turban head gold quarter eagle 150x150 Gold Quarter Eagle

There are two major versions of this type of the Turban Head $2.50 Gold Coin - one without stars and one with stars on the obverse or front of the coin.

These coins are rare due to both a low mintage and the fact that a large majority of them were melted down for their gold content.

Even though these coins are rare, they are still obtainable for the collector who has enough money.

Capped Bust $2.50 Gold Coin (1808-1834)

The $2.50 gold US coin was changed in 1808 with a more youthful Liberty sporting a new head piece that was more like a beret with the word LIBERTY on the headband.

The 1808 Quarter Eagle is actually a type in itself due to the huge gap between 1808 and 1821 when no $2.50 gold coins were produced.

When they were once again produced, in 1821, Liberty had a smaller head and part of the bust line had been omitted.capped head reduced size quarter eagle2 150x150 Gold Quarter Eagle

There were also two types of this coin:

  • Capped Head left large size (1821-1827)
  • Capped Head left reduced size (1829-1834)

All dates in this type are scarce and therefore valuable making them extremely expensive to add to a collection.

Classic Head $2.50 Gold Coin (1834-1839)

Classic Head 2.50 Gold Gold Quarter EagleWith the Classic Head Type Quarter Eagle, Liberty's hat was replaced with a ribbon bearing the word LIBERTY.

Since gold had been discovered in both Georgia and North Carolina, mintages increased with the Classic Head making them more readily available to collectors for a reasonable price.

Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin (1840-1907)

In 1840 Liberty once again was given a make-over. Her hair was put up in a bun and instead of a ribbon in her hair, she was crowned with a coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY.Liberty Head 2.50 Gold 150x112 Gold Quarter Eagle

This series lasted for over 60 years, so there are a lot of low-mintage dates and expensive rarities.

One piece from this series that I find very interesting is the California gold coin of 1848.

These coins were made at Philadelphia from gold that was shipped all the way from the California gold fields.250 california gold coi 150x109 Gold Quarter Eagle

They have the letters CAL. punched into the reverse of the coin to signify that they are California gold coins.

Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin (1908-1929)

The Indian Head Quarter Eagle is another interesting coin. Instead of the design being raised above the flat surface of the coin, the design on the Indian Head is actually incused, or stamped into the metal of the coin.

The $5 Half Eagle received the same interesting update.indian head quarter eagle 150x112 Gold Quarter Eagle

If you find these coins interesting and decide to collect them, you will find that it only takes 15 coins to complete a date and mint set of Indian Head Quarter Eagles.

There is really only one key date, the 1911-D. It can be rather expensive, not because it is rare, but rather because it is a very popular and desirable coin.

Quarter Eagle ($2.50)
Years Minted Turban Head - 1796-1807
Capped Bust - 1808-1834
Classic Head - 1834-1839
Liberty-head - 1840-1907
Indian-head - 1908-1929
Designer Turban Head - Robert Scot
Capped Bust - John Reich
Classic Head - William Kneass
Liberty-head - Christian Gobrecht
Indian-head - Bela Lyon Pratt
Weight Turban Head - 4.37 grams
Capped Bust - 4.37 grams
Classic Head - 4.18 grams
Liberty-head - 4.18 grams
Indian-head - 4.18 grams
Composition Turban Head - .9167 gold, .0833 silver and copper
Capped Bust - .9167 gold, .0833 silver and copper
Classic Head -
1834-1836 - .8992 gold, .1008 silver and copper
1837-1839 - .900 gold, .100 copper
Liberty-head - .900 gold, .100 copper
(net weight .12094 oz. pure gold)
Indian-head - .900 gold, .100 copper
(net weight .12094 oz. pure gold)
Diameter Turban Head - approx. 20 mm
Capped Bust - 1808-1827 - approx. 20 mm
1829-1834 - approx. 18.5 mm
Classic Head - 18.2 mm
Liberty-head - 18 mm
Indian-head - 18 mm
Edge All - reeded
Mints Turban Head - Philadelphia
Capped Bust - Philadelphia
Classic Head - Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega,
New Orleans
Liberty-head - Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega,
New Orleans, San Francisco
Indian-head - Philadelphia, Denver

Coins:

Comments are closed.