1881 25C AU50 Certification #30435556, PCGS #5513

Brigs 1-A Strong for the grade

Gordon Wrubel

Philadelpha Mint circulation strike quarters from 1879-1889 have low mintages ranging from 5,000 to 15,200. The reason for these tiny mintage figures was the Bland-Allison Silver Act of 1878. The Act mandated the minting of prodigious amounts of dollar coins to satisfy the demands of Western mining interests. This taxed the Mint's coining and die making machinery which resulted in meager production of sorely needed minor coinage. The situation was not corrected until 1892 with the introduction of the new Barber coinage. With survival estimates in the 15% range, circulation strike quarters of these dates were, and still are, highly sought by date collectors, and hoarded by some.

Quickfinder Notes: Proof expert, John Dannreuther, points out some minor positional differences involving the point of the shield, and the 1 and 8 of the date to the denticles, to determine proof versus Mint State status. The dentilation also offers some clues. On proof issues the denticles are strongly struck and sharply defined. On Mint State pieces, the denticles tend to be more blunt and softer in strike.