1796 $2.50 No Stars (Regular Strike)
Series: Draped Bust $2 1/2 1796-1807
PCGS MS65
PCGS MS63
PCGS MS62+
- PCGS #:
- 7645
- Designer:
- Robert Scot
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 20.00 millimeters
- Weight:
- 4.37 grams
- Mintage:
- 963
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 91.7% Gold, 8.3% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $2,160,000 • MS62+ • 01-16-2022 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
- 1796 $2.50 No Stars
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 88 |
| 60 or Better | 8 |
| 65 or Better | 1 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-8.1 |
| 60 or Better | R-9.6 |
| 65 or Better | R-10.0 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 1 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 1 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 1 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 8 / 12 |
| 60 or Better | 5 / 12 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 12 TIE |
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS65 PCGS grade
Lorin G. Parmelee Collection - New York Coin & Stamp Co. 6/1890:719, $17.50 - “C” (per a priced/named catalog on the Newman Numismatic Portal) - Col. Robert C.H. Brock Collection - Philip H. Ward, Jr. Collection - Stack’s 5/1964:1660 (as Raw Brilliant Uncirculated), $7,750.00 - University of Pennsylvania Collection - Lelan Rogers Collection - Stack's/RARCOA/Akers “Numisma ‘95” 11/1995:1498 (as Raw Brilliant Uncirculated gem), $605,000.00 - American Numismatic Rarities 6/2005:1002 (as PCGS MS65), $1,380,000.00 - Heritage 1/2008:3058 (as PCGS MS65 05324089), $1,725,000.00
|
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#2 NGC MS63
Superior 3/2000:712 (as NGC MS63 372561001), $178,250.00 - Freedom Collection - Heritage 1/2007:3380 (as NGC MS63 1776966004), $287,500.00 |
|
#2 NGC MS63
Heritage 1/2004:3004 (as NGC MS62 695929001), $138,000.00 - Offered by MikeByers.com at the 2/2012 Long Beach show for $750,000 - Heritage 8/2012:5281 (as NGC MS63 1891964001), $252,625.00 - Warshaw Family Collection - Heritage 1/2020:4325 (as NGC MS63 1891964001), $300,000.00
|
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#4 Raw Brilliant Uncirculated
Lester Merkin, sold privately in 5/1970 - John Whitney Walter Collection - Stack's 5/1999:1788 (as Raw Very Choice About Uncirculated), $86,250.00 - Stack's 5/2001:34 (as Raw Brilliant Uncirculated), $92,000.00 |
#5 PCGS MS62+
James Swan Collection - Oliver Jung Collection - American Numismatic Rarities 7/2004:82 (as PCGS MS62), $345,000.00 - Stack's 7/2008:2324 (as PCGS MS62+), $488,750.00 - Bob R. Simpson Collection (as PCGS MS62+ 30132359)
|
#6 PCGS MS62
Harold P. Newlin, sold privately on 10/31/1884 - Robert Garrett Collection - T. Harrison Garrett Collection - Robert Garrett Collection - John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection, Part II - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1980:732 (as Raw Choice AU55), $125,000.00 - Ed Hipps, sold privately - John Whitney Walter Collection - Stack's 5/1999:1787 (as Raw Brilliant Uncirculated), $299,000.00 - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part I - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 5/2015:1116 (as PCGS MS62 03332336), $822,500.00
|
#6 PCGS MS62
John Story Jenks Collection - Henry Chapman 12/1921:5784 (as Raw “Obverse extremely fine; the reverse uncirculated, brilliant”), $140.00 - James A. Stack, Sr. Collection - Stack's 10/1994:829 (as Raw Choice About Uncirculated), $82,500.00 - Alpine Zephyr Collection - Heritage 8/2006:5417 (as PCGS MS61 OGH Gold CAC 04760717), $322,000.00 - Werner Family Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2012:11174 (as PCGS MS61 OGH Gold CAC 04760717), $411,250.00 - Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 10/2015:55 (as PCGS MS61 OGH Gold CAC 04760717), $352,500.00 - EarlyAurum Collection (as PCGS MS62 04760717)
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#8 NGC MS62
Heritage 1/1999:7942 (as NGC MS62), $138,000.00 - Superior 3/2000:713 (as NGC MS62 224585001), $103,500.00 - Paramount Collection - Heritage 2/2021:3735 (as NGC MS62 6066356001), $276,000.00 |
|
#8 NGC MS62
Heritage 1/2007:3379 (as NGC MS61 916122004), $253,000.00 - Stack's/Bowers 3/2012:4258 (as NGC MS62 3163612017), $258,750.00 |
|
#10 PCGS MS61 CAC
Stuart Levine, sold privately in 8/2001 - Ed Price Collection - Heritage 7/2008:1451 (as PCGS MS61 CAC 12766377), $276,000.00 - Heritage 8/2011:7436 (as PCGS MS61 CAC 13582143), $276,000.00 - Heritage 6/2018:4094 (as PCGS MS61 CAC 13582143), $396,000.00 |
The 1796 Quarter Eagle with No Stars on the obverse is one of the most historic and important U.S. gold coins. The mintage is a mere 963 pieces, which is exceedingly small by any standard. Estimates of the number of surviving examples has ranged all over the place. David Akers claimed 30 to 40, refuting earlier claims of 15 to 20 known. The cataloger at Heritage estimated 80 to 100 in their January 2007 sale. PCGS experts estimate a surviving population of 100 to 125 pieces. To put a finer spin on things, we have images of 28 different examples, all in AU or better. Eleven of those examples are Mint State 60 or better. At the top of the condition census is the incredible PCGS MS65 (finest by two full points) that sold for $1,725,000 in January 2008.
It is very difficult to locate a "perfect" 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle. Many show lintmarks of various sizes. Some show adjustment marks, usually in the center of the obverse. The Bass:261 coin (now in an NGC MS60 holder) shows three different, mint-caused defects: a diagonal fissure running from the turban to Liberty's temple; vertical adjustment marks on the obverse; and a heavy lintmark on the right side of the reverse (yet, it is still a nice, six-figure coin). Though there are numerically finer examples, my personal favorite is Bob Simpson's PCGS MS62+ -- it is well-struck, has great color, and is free of any distracting problems.