Draped Bust $2.5

Draped Bust (1796-1807)

At the turn of the 19th century, two and a half dollars represented a considerable sum of money—five days wages for the average U.S. Mint employee. It was unlikely however, that anyone outside the Philadelphia Mint would see that amount in the form of the new quarter eagle coin: so few were made, and fewer still entered circulation. The denomination may as well not have existed at all. A few large Northeastern banks did occasionally order quarter eagles, but apparently more as a whim than out of necessity, as most remained in their vaults.

Although authorized by the Mint Act of 1792, by all appearances the coin was an unwanted stepchild: it was the last denomination made, and then only in such small quantities as to be of little use in commerce. The cent, half dollar, and half eagle took center stage during this era—they were the real workhorses. The paucity of early quarter eagles has a flip .... (Expand Text)

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1796 DRAPED BUST $2.5, NO STARS MS63

NO STARS. VERY CHOICE LUSTROUS SURFACES. ONLY 963 ORIGINALLY MINTED. LESS THAN 125 BELIEVED TO EXIST TODAY IN ALL GRADES. A ONE YEAR ONLY TYPE COIN. SOLE SECOND HIGHEST GRADED AT PCGS.
$2,475,000.00

1797 DRAPED BUST $2.5 AU53

CHOICE EVEN SLIGHTLY WORN LUSTROUS SURFACES. LESS THAN 30 SPECIMENS BELIEVED TO EXIST TODAY IN ALL GRADES. JUST 427 ORIGINALLY STRUCK.
$134,750.00

1802 DRAPED BUST $2.5 MS65

JUST 3,035 STRUCK. SOLE HIGHEST GRADED.
$550,000.00

1804 DRAPED BUST $2.5, 14 STARS REVERSE MS61

14 STARS REVERSE. BRILLIANT LUSTROUS SURFACES. ONLY 2,827 STRUCK.
$55,000.00

1806/4 DRAPED BUST $2.5, 8X5 STARS AU58

8x5 STARS. SATIN LUSTROUS SURFACES. LESS THAN 100 COINS EXIST TODAY IN ALL GRADES. ONLY 6 COINS GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS.
$49,500.00

1806/5 DRAPED BUST $2.5, 7X6 STARS AU58

7x6 STARS. LUSTROUS SURFACES ADORNS THIS SLIGHTLY WORN PLANCHET. JUST 25 TO 35 SPECIMENS BELIEVED TO EXIST IN ALL GRADES TODAY.
$79,500.00

1807 DRAPED BUST $2.5 MS64

VIRTUAL GEM WITH SURFACES OF SATIN LUSTER. ONLY ONE COIN GRADED HIGHER. SOLE SECOND HIGHEST GRADED AT PCGS.
$275,000.00