A. W. Browning
The 1925 work, The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States by Ard W. Browning, since its publication has been one of the most elusive and yet most valuable studies of a United States series. The supply of original Browning books was exhausted decades ago, and while reprints have helped fill in the intervening years, there have not contained any new information.
This, perhaps, is in keeping with Ard W. Browing himself, and elusive figure in the annals of American numismatics. Little is known about his life and activities, and today he is chiefly remembered for this book which, now in its revised form, still bears his name as primary author.
This, perhaps is also in keeping with the nature of the early quarter dollars themselves. More so than their contemporary denominations- silver coins from the half dime to the the half dollar- early quarters are numismatically rare today. While it is not unusual for a dealer to have dozens of Capped Bust half dollars circa 1807-1836 in stock (or, years ago, hundreds of such coins in inventory), or a nice supply of early half dimes and dimes, quarters are usually a different story. Specimens, even of so-called "common dates" are rare when compared to half dollars of the same era.
The 1796-1838 era under study here contains several famous issues. First and foremost, although not the rarest, is the initial year of issue, 1796, which is renown for its scarcity combined with its status of being the only year with the Draped Bust obverse in combination with the Small Eagle reverse. Thus, anyone aspiring to complete a type set of United States coinage must acquire a 1796. The 1804 is moderately famous as a scarce date, and quite admired whenever it appears in a high grade level, such as the marvelous Mint State coin which appeared in one of Lester Merkin's auction sales back in 1972. The 1823/2 overdate, a coin usually seen in lower grade levels, has its own circle of devotees, one of whom is Carl Herkowitz, who has written an article or two about it. Completing the front rank of "stars" on the stage of early quarters is the 1827, which exists in original and restrike form. Particularly enchanting is the oft-repeated story that young J.J. Mickley (born in 1799) went to the Philadelphia Mint in 1827 and obtained obtained four glittering Proof quarters for face value.
The present edition of the Browning book, very extensively revised and containing the contributions of some of today's foremost numismatists, will be welcomed as a bookshelf addition by a new generation of collectors and dealers, some of whom may go on to specialize in this long-neglected series or, better yet, discover a new die variety.