The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States

Quarter Dollars of 1806

Total number of pieces coined 206,124. Nine die varieties are known, with one

No. 1

Obverse: 1806 over 1805; from the same die as 1805 [Browning] 4.

Reverse: The same as 1805 [Browning] 4. (Four berries on olive branch).

Dies perfect in early impressions; obverse in later pieces showing a weakness at left involving the border and stars. A scarce variety in common condition, rare if sharp.

Obverse of 1805 B-4, overdated.

Reverse of 1805 B-4, 4 berries.

Browning-1; Clapp-1; Duphorne-9; Breen-3886; Haseltine-1.

Die States: I. Perfect. Weakness develops at left obverse border and stars.

II. Heavy clash marks from obverse at branch, berry and top leaves.

This represents the same emergency (the Engraver's exhaustion of his supply of die steel) as the 1806/5 quarter eagle and the 1806/5 hall dollar obverse, Overton-104 which originated as 1805 half dollar, Overton-105. One earlier instance is recorded of reannealing a used die to alter it and reharden it for subsequent use: 1801 cent Reverse K (NC-3), altered to make the "Corrected Fraction" of 1803, S-249. NEQ.

There are many Uncirculated survivors.

1. David M. Bullowa (seen 3/13/52). Uncirculated, prooflike. Possibly ex Mougey at a then extraordinary $165
2. J. Colvin Randall, Garrett:625.
3. 1942 ANA, T. James Clarke, NN 47:1560.
4. Kern:1388.
5. NN 54:300, Herbert Tobias.
6. Miles:880.
7. Winner Delp:53, Speir Estate sale:4.
8. Kreisberg/Cohen 9/10-12/73:661, Robinson:1267.
9. Austin:549, Reed Hawn:261.
10. Martin Field:783 (PTAC 9/78). Unusually sharp strike.
11. Neil:874, "practically Uncirculated," is double struck, plainest at LIBERTY and some stars.

Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr.): 65, 64, 63, 62, 62, 62.

No. 2

Obverse: Foot of 1 in date and T in LIBERTY defective at left; foot of I defective at right, the only variety with perfect date showing these defects. Date not equally spaced, 8 and 0 too close; lower left star and curl and opposite star and drapery are equally spaced; upper left star and bottom of L are twice as far apart as opposite star and top of Y.

Reverse: In the value, 25 C, C just touches eagle's tail, which is long and tapering; C also touches inverted A in AMERICA; end of olive branch is over point where C and A are in contact and almost touches A; in eagle's wing at right, foot of A touches side of third and is over end of fourth feather but does not touch it.

Dies perfect. A rare variety.

Broken feet on 1, I and T.

C of value touches tail, final A; three repunched stars.

Browning-2; not in Clapp; Duphorne-10; included in Breen-3887 (5 berries); not in Haseltine.

Rarity-4.

Die States: I. Perfect.
II. Clash marks from head near shield; from drapery at S OF; weakness at eagle's head and wings.
III. Crack (circular arc) from final A to branch, shield, M of motto, 6th star (last in top row), cloud and O to rim. Rare.
IV. Another arc crack from 2 through arrows, left of shield, B, stars, cloud, and E of STATES to rim. Rare.
V. Buckling at eagle's head and right wing. Rare.

Not often available in Mint State.
1. "Dupont":1786. Uncirculated, prooflike.
2. Boyd, WGC:15, Kern:1389.
3. Wayte Raymon, NN 49:1144. State IV.
4. Picker, Norweb:1518. Centers weak. State IV.
5. J.A. Stack Estate:6. State IV.
6. Newcomer, Shultz, Bergen:11.
7. NERCA "Cambridge" 12/76:639.
8. 1978 FUN:403.
9. Auction '80:1581. Weak centers,
Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr.) 63PL, 63, 63, 63, 60+, 60+.