The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States
A. W. Browning
Quarter Dollars of 1820
Total number of pieces coined 127,444. Five varieties are known.
The years 1820-28 were notable for reuse of old dies, some coins dated 1820 being struck in 1821, all 1824s being struck in 1825, some 1825s possibly as late as 1828. Nor were the dies put into use in the order in which they were made.
Fortunately, few enough dies are involved, and the successive states of Reich's reverse hub are distinct enough, that we can establish a reasonable chronological sequence not only for making the dies but for using them. The following tabulation speaks for itself.
I. Middle sinister talon extends below longest arrowshaft.
1. Curve based 2, plain top; old-style 5, irregular knob [1815-18 batch]
1818 B-2 through B-10 (6 dies)
1819 B-3 = 1819 B-4
1822 B-1 = 1928 B-3
2. Flat based 2; modern small 5, round knob [ 1819 batch]
1819 B-1, B-2
1820 B-3
1821 "B-6" (The 5 may be from a different punch)
II. Middle sinister talon broken off at lowest arrow shaft.
3. Flat based 2; modern small 5, round knob [1820 batch]
1820 B-4 = 1821 B-2
1820 B-2, "B-5" = 1821 B-4
1825 B-2
4. Flat based 2; modern tall 5, round knob [1820 batch]
1820 B-4 = 1821 B-1, B-3
1821 B-5
1822 B-1
1825 B-3
5. Curved base 2; fancy top; tall 5 ($5 punches?)
1827 B-1 = 1828 B-1
1828 B-4
III. Part of lowest arrowhead and top arrowshafts broken off
6. Numerals 25 as in group 4
1823 This die was repaired to make 1824
B-1 = 1825
B-1 = 1828 B-2
Emission sequence: B-3, 1, 2, "B-5", and 4.
Emission sequence: B-3, 1, 2, "B-5", and 4.
I have not had a chance to examine the two Group 5 dies recently enough to ascertain if they show hand finishing at arrows, which if present would indicate that they belong after Group 6.
The 127,444 coined in 1820 may well have comprised only the three varieties 1820 B-3, 1, 2 in that order, perhaps with some 1819 B-2? The 216,851 coins in 1821 therefore probably included most or all the following sequence: 1821 B-4, 1820 "B-5", 1820 B-4, 1821 B-3, B-1, B-2, "B-6", B-5, in that order (established by die states). Clearly the dies were not used in their order of manufacture.
No. 1
Obverse: Date very wide, equally spaced, small 2, large long 0, not quite centered under curl, slightly to right; lower left star points to second fold in drapery; upper right star very close to cap.
Reverse: Ends of scroll: left about even with extreme left of D; right about even with extreme right of A. On scroll: I about centered under T; S under S at right. The value, 25 C., is high near eagle; 2 has flat base in all reverses of this date.
Dies perfect. Proofs were made from these dies.
The four or five Proofs must have been made in 1821, like the B-2's (below). There are enough Proofs of 1820-1821 in every denomination from cents to half eagles to suggest special strikings in 1821 for favored parties, including backdated coins. Nothing in Mint correspondence or other Archives documents seen to date provided any clue as to the identities of the VIP collectors.
And what happened to the ANS coin? It was supposedly better than AU; but it's called VF+ in the JRCS list.
Large 0; widest date, long peak to 1.
High 25 C; olive leaves free of border.
Browning-1; Clapp-3; Duphorne-38; included in Breen-3901; Haseltine-3.
Rarity-3.
The long peak to 1 in date is from the punch used on cents (Newcomb-11 variety).
Proofs: The four records may represent as few as two pieces.
1. Cleneay:1330.
2. Winsor:592.
3. Boyd, WGC:69. Possibly same as either of the foregoing?
4. Hank Rodgers. 1977 ANA, Numismatic Investments of Florida. Same comment.
In Mint State this variety is extremely rare, though it can be found in grades from Good through EF without much difficulty. The best ones include:
1. Col. Green, T. James Clarke, NN 47:1569. Plate III.
2. ANS.
3. Speir estate sale: 12, 1975 ANA:357, Superior 10/78:1180. AU+, rim nick at first start.
4. Brown Library:195 (Pine Tree 5/76). AU.
Numerical Condition Census (RWM, Sr. [circa 1992]): 60, 60, 60, 60, 55, 45.