1845 $2.50 (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Head $2 1/2 1840-1907

PCGS MS64

PCGS MS64

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PCGS MS64

PCGS MS64

PCGS MS64

PCGS MS64

PCGS #:
7737
Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Edge:
Reeded
Diameter:
18.00 millimeters
Weight:
4.18 grams
Mintage:
91,051
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
90% Gold, 10% Copper
Major Varieties

Current Auctions - PCGS Graded
Current Auctions - NGC Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades Survival
Estimate
Numismatic
Rarity
Relative Rarity
By Type
Relative Rarity
By Series
All Grades 300 R-6.4 97 / 147 TIE 97 / 147 TIE
60 or Better 40 R-8.7 98 / 147 TIE 98 / 147 TIE
65 or Better 0 R-10.1 1 / 147 1 / 147
Survival Estimate
All Grades 300
60 or Better 40
65 or Better
Numismatic Rarity
All Grades R-6.4
60 or Better R-8.7
65 or Better R-10.1
Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades 97 / 147 TIE
60 or Better 98 / 147 TIE
65 or Better 1 / 147
Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades 97 / 147 TIE
60 or Better 98 / 147 TIE
65 or Better 1 / 147

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, October 9, 2014, Lot 4959 - $7,050; DLRC, June 19, 2022, Lot 707793 - $13,250; Legend, October 20, 2022, Lot 154 - Passed; Heritage, January 13, 2023, Lot 4065 - $11,100. Diagonal rolling marks across face. Tick in the field to the left of 1. Weakness on the eagle’s right leg. Crack from rim through I of UNITED to the eagle’s leg.

1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, July 10, 2009, Lot 1307 - $6,957.50. Shattered reverse die.

1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, April 27, 2006, Lot 2367 - $8,050; Heritage May 11, 2007, Lot 3338 - $8,050. Shattered reverse die.

1 PCGS MS64 PCGS #7737 (MS)     64
1 PCGS MS64
1 PCGS MS64
1 PCGS MS64
1 Est. MS64

Goldberg Auctioneers, June 2002, Lot 3493 - $8,913 - "The Charleston Collection,"  American Numismatic Rarities, September 2005, Lot 1093 - $9,545; Heritage, December 2005, Lot 1111 - Passed; Heritage, February 2006. Lot 2614 - Passed; Heritage April 2006, Lot 1610 - $14,380.75; Heritage, Jamiary 2014, Lot 6433 - $18,800; Heritage, October 2014. Lot 4960 - $14,100Obverse die crack from star 3 to 6. Ticks to the right of Liberty’s bun. Ticks to the left of star 13. Reverse die crack from 1 o'clock to eagle’s neck and from 7 o’clock to eagle’s talon.

9 PCGS MS63+

As PCGS MS63+ #330114761. Heritage, February 2016, Lot 4223 - $4,230. As PCGS MS63+ #83550467. Heritage Auctions, June 8, 2017, Lot 3809 - $4,700Dell Loy HansenSpot near star 3. Copper coloration near star 6. 

9 PCGS MS63+
#1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, October 9, 2014, Lot 4959 - $7,050; DLRC, June 19, 2022, Lot 707793 - $13,250; Legend, October 20, 2022, Lot 154 - Passed; Heritage, January 13, 2023, Lot 4065 - $11,100. Diagonal rolling marks across face. Tick in the field to the left of 1. Weakness on the eagle’s right leg. Crack from rim through I of UNITED to the eagle’s leg.

#1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, July 10, 2009, Lot 1307 - $6,957.50. Shattered reverse die.

#1 PCGS MS64

Heritage, April 27, 2006, Lot 2367 - $8,050; Heritage May 11, 2007, Lot 3338 - $8,050. Shattered reverse die.

PCGS #7737 (MS)     64 #1 PCGS MS64
#1 PCGS MS64
#1 PCGS MS64
#1 PCGS MS64
#1 Est. MS64

Goldberg Auctioneers, June 2002, Lot 3493 - $8,913 - "The Charleston Collection,"  American Numismatic Rarities, September 2005, Lot 1093 - $9,545; Heritage, December 2005, Lot 1111 - Passed; Heritage, February 2006. Lot 2614 - Passed; Heritage April 2006, Lot 1610 - $14,380.75; Heritage, Jamiary 2014, Lot 6433 - $18,800; Heritage, October 2014. Lot 4960 - $14,100Obverse die crack from star 3 to 6. Ticks to the right of Liberty’s bun. Ticks to the left of star 13. Reverse die crack from 1 o'clock to eagle’s neck and from 7 o’clock to eagle’s talon.

#9 PCGS MS63+

As PCGS MS63+ #330114761. Heritage, February 2016, Lot 4223 - $4,230. As PCGS MS63+ #83550467. Heritage Auctions, June 8, 2017, Lot 3809 - $4,700Dell Loy HansenSpot near star 3. Copper coloration near star 6. 

#9 PCGS MS63+
Charles Morgan:

Three Mints produced Liberty Head Quarter Eagles in 1845: Philadelphia led with 91,051 coins, followed by the Charlotte Mint with a strong mintage of 19,460, and the New Orleans Mint issued a sparse total of 4,000 pieces.

The Philadelphia Mint’s production is technically notable because the facility kept several reverse dies in service past their expected lifespan, resulting in numerous coins exhibiting conspicuous die cracks. For example, one spectacularly shattered die shows four cracks emanating from the rim and meeting precisely at the arrow fletching. Given that multiple die crack configurations exist for the 1845-P issue, their presence is frequently mentioned by auction catalogers.

PCGS Market Insights

Although the mintage for this issue was sizable for the period, it is not a type coin. While the 1845 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is readily available in Mint State, it becomes rare in grades of MS64 and above.

David Akers, in his landmark work, United States Gold Coins: An Analysis of Auction Records. Volume II: Quarter Eagles, 1796-1929 (published 1975), called the 1845 "one of the most common dates of the 1840s, and certainly the most common Philadelphia Mint quarter eagle of the decade in choice condition."

Akers' assessment remains accurate today. The 1843-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle (#7731) runs a close second in MS63 or better, despite being a much more common date across all grades. Notably, the known population of 1845-P coins graded MS63 or finer has remained remarkably stable for nearly 20 years.

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