The four gold coins from the US Eagle denomination were issued between 1795 and 1929/1933. One of the first coins halted in the series was the Gold Quarter Eagle, a specimen last issued in 1929. The most popular and longest-running design in the Quarter Eagle Series was the Liberty Head coin. Right now, 1861 Gold $2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagles in certified condition are available to purchase online at Silver.com.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships to you in a PCGS protective plastic slab!
- 1861 release is famous for a minor reverse design change!
- Availability of certified coins is limited!
- Consists of .121 Troy ounces of actual gold content.
- Bears a face value of $2.50 (USD) backed by the federal government.
- Issued a Grade of Mint State 62 by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
- The obverse features an image of Lady Liberty.
- On the reverse is the heraldic eagle.
Each 1861 Gold $2.50 Liberty Quarter Eagle available here at Silver.com comes in a protective plastic slab with a Mint State 62 grade from the PCGS. Coins in this condition exhibit impaired or dull mint luster, with the possibility of small clusters of contact marks, a few large marks, and hairlines that are noticeable within the design field.
The Liberty Head design was introduced in 1840 on the Quarter Eagle, though it had been designed by Christian Gobrecht in 1838 and introduced earlier on the Eagle, the $10 denomination in the series. The coins in the Quarter Eagle Series used the Liberty Head design for 67 years from 1840 to 1907 when it was replaced by the Indian Head design. The only major change to the Quarter Eagle design came in 1866 when IN GOD WE TRUST was introduced on the reverse. However, a smaller change came before that in 1861.
The obverse of these 1861 Gold Liberty Quarter Eagles features a left-profile portrait of Lady Liberty. Designed by Gobrecht in 1838, this visual shows Liberty wearing a coronet crown on her head with 13 stars around the bust of Liberty and a date mark at the bottom.
On the reverse side of 1861 Gold $2.50 Quarter Eagles is an image of the heraldic eagle of the United States. This design shows the American bald eagle in front-facing relief with the US national shield on its chest. The eagle clutches the arrows of war in one talon and the olive branch of peace in the other talon. Known as the New Reverse, the 1861 Gold Quarter Eagle features a rounder O in the word OF compared to previous issues. Earlier issues of the coins came with an oval-shaped O instead.
If you have any questions when buying gold, please feel free to ask. Silver.com customer service is available to assist you with questions at 888-989-7223, online using our live chat, and via our email address.
