1926 $2.50 Sesquicentennial MS64 Certification #21270674, PCGS #7466

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness." --Thomas Jefferson--The Declaration of Independence--July 4, 1776. This memorable statement as well the entire declaration is the subject of the Sesquicentennial Quarter Eagle of U. S. Independence. The U.S. Cogress authorized the exposition in Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of signing of the declaration as well as the issue of commemorative coins, gold quarter eagles and silver half dollars. The obverse of the quarter eagle shows Miss Liberty standing on the globe, with a torch in the right hand and a scroll, depicting the declaration, in the left hand. The inscriptions, United States of America, Liberty, and the dual date, 1776-1926, encircle the coin. The reverse shows Independence Hall, the birthplace of the declaration, with Sesquicentennial of American Independence and 2 1/2 Dollars along the perimeter of the coin. The coin is struck in very low relief as to barely show the rising sun on the reverse. The low relief, with little protection for the design elements, accounts for the few coins in gem condition. Over 200,000 coins were struck for sale at the Sesquicentennial Expostion in Philadelphia, but disappointingly the expo was a bust with only 5 million in attendence and 46,000 sold. The rest of over 150,000 were sent to the melting pot for reincarnation. The coins are common in lower mint state grades but become exceedingly rare in gem MS65 and above. Shody counterfeits exist but should not be confused with authentic coins. All commemorative gold coins should be certified by a qualified third party grading service before purchase. At least one matte proof exits for the issue from the estate of John Sinnock, cheif engraver of the mint. As part of the celebration of the the sequicentennial exposition the United States Postal Service issued stamps as shown in the scan below.

Ron Guth

In 1926, the U.S. celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by issuing two commemorative coins, a half dollar and a $2.50 gold piece.  The front of the $2.50 gold piece features a full-length image of Liberty holding a torch in her outstretched right arm and an unfurling scroll in the other.  The back of the coin is a frontal view of Independence Hall, where the delegates met and signed the document. 

The $2.50 Sesqui has the largest mintage of any early gold commemorative by far, apparently in anticipation of strong collector demand.  PCGS alone has certified over 11,000 examples, representing almost a fourth of the total mintage.  The most common grade is MS64, followed by MS63, then MS65.  MS66 examples are scarce, but not rare, the result of the low relief design and the open, vulnerable devices.  No MS67 examples are known yet, and if such a high-grade piece were to hit the market, the value would be astonishing.