1821 25C MS64 Certification #07878269, PCGS #5331

1821 25C MS64 PCGS. B-5, R4. Population (PCGS 13/11, NGC 20/10). The mintage reported for the year was 216,851 coins, although some of those were from dies dated 1820. It would be almost impossible to speculate how many of each date were included in the total production figure. Mintage of the Capped Bust quarter dollars was sporadic at best. The following years are represented: 1815, 1818-1825, 1827, and 1828. Breen suggested that the public much preferred the Spanish 2 Reals silver pieces and other fractional units. The Spanish colonial pieces were much more familiar to most people of the young nation. Designs were by John Reich, who redesigned all of the circulating coinage after he was hired in 1807. The quarters and half dimes were the last two denominations to adopt the new designs, in 1815 and 1829 respectively. Three obverse and five reverse dies were produced for a combination of six different die varieties. With the exception of "B-6," of which only two coins are believed extant, B-5 is the scarcest variety of the 1821 Quarter. This coin most likely qualifies for Condition Census. It has the first star near the bust truncation, while the seventh star points to the headband. The sixth star is boldly re-cut.

Ron Guth

The 1821 Quarter has one of the larger mintages of the series, though there is a possibility that some of that mintage belongs to 1820.  Even so, the 1821 Quarter is fairly plentiful in most grades and can be found in Mint State with relative ease.  There are quite a few, very nice 1821 Quarters.  When compiling the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census, we found at least a dozen MS65 and better examples.  Most are attractively toned and some are prooflike (John Jay Pittman bought his 1821 Quarter as a Proof -- it is now in a PCGS MS65 holder).  The strike on 1821 Quarters is also better than in the previous year, which is a plus for type collectors. 

For those that follow quality, the best 1821 Quarter is a PCGS MS67 that last appeared on the market in 2002 when it set a record price (for the date) of $66,125.