Discover the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle: A Treasure of American History

Introduction

The 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is a coin in the long line of very important coins in American coin collection history. This $2.50 gold piece indicates an important period in the history of money in the United States and is not only aesthetically beautiful but also historically valuable.

This coin has been produced at three different centers: Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Charlotte. Every coin of the year 1846 Quarter Eagle has their own history behind them. The output of this coin declines when America is developing land and witnessing economic growth faster. It thus ties them directly to American history.

• Historical events that shaped the creation of this coin
• The intricately designed elements by Christian Gobrecht
• Specific mintage numbers from each facility
• Current market values and investment potential
• Rarity factors that make certain varieties very much in demand

And whether you are a seasoned coin collector or simply interested in early America, a Liberty Head Quarter Eagle dated 1846 provides insight into a period of U.S.

Historical Context

One of the milestones in American monetary history is the Coinage Act of 1792. In this, it established the U.S. dollar as the major medium of money in the United States. The new innovation for that period was that a decimal system was brought about. Another creation the Act made possible was the building of the first U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.

Key Provisions of the Coinage Act

The Coinage Act stated the following:

• Quantum of precious metal in coins
• Weight standards for various denominations of coins
• Design requirements for all US coins

The Philadelphia Mint was established in 1793 as the first federal building under the U.S. Constitution. Its creation signified America’s intent to be financially independent, churning out coins that would power the still-young nation’s expanding economy.

Expansion of the U.S. Mint System

The system had, by 1846, expanded its operation into other facilities as:

• Charlotte, North Carolina 1838: Established for minting gold deposits local in that region
• Dahlonega, Georgia 1838: Created for making gold coins from local source regions
• New Orleans, Louisiana 1838: It was strategically established so as to handle the foreign trade.

These branch mints played key roles in America’s expansion westward and economic growth.

The Philadelphia Mint continued to be the central facility that produced most of the nation’s coinage and used as a model for setting quality standards at the other branch mints.

Significance of the Quarter Eagle Denomination

The Quarter Eagle denomination, which the 1792 Act made possible, had a gold value of $2.50 – an enormous sum in the mid-19th century economy.

Mintage and Specifications

Three U.S. Mint facilities produced the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle with varying mintage numbers:

• Philadelphia Mint: 21,498 pieces minted
• New Orleans Mint (1846-O): ~62,000 pieces minted
• Charlotte Mint (1846-C): 4,808 pieces minted

New Orleans was a facility that held the greatest numbers of productions. As such, some coins had weak strikes; they have been known for a while. Charlotte Mint had lesser production due to the length of time since a fire destroyed it back in 1844. Because of differences in production, mint mark varieties have differing rarity and value; today, specimens from Charlotte are rare.

Quarter Eagles uniform specs for all the mints:

• Weight: 4.18 grams
• Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
• Diameter: 18 millimeters

Design and Characteristics

The Liberty Head Quarter Eagle in 1846 is one of the masterpieces crafted by Christian Gobrecht, the third Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. It marks a turning point in American coinage aesthetics.

Obverse Design

The obverse of the coin features a facing left portrait of Lady Liberty, whose hair is nicely styled in a classical braid with a coronet inscribed with “LIBERTY.” Design included are:

• 13 stars circling Liberty’s profile for the original colonies
• Bottom date: “1846”
• Hair details showcasing the attention to craftsmanship by Gobrecht

Reverse Design

The reverse side features the following:

• A proud American eagle that spreads its wings
• Shield across the breast of the eagle
• The word “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
• The mint mark “2 1/2 D.”

The Liberty Head style represented a new level of aesthetic sophistication from earlier coins and was more refined. Gobrecht’s rendering of Liberty would be used as the model for the designs of American coins for many years to come. This tiny quarter eagle, at 18mm in diameter, is remarkable for its detail work, showing how technical skill in engraving evolved over the 19th century.

This design was in production from 1840 to 1907 and is the coin with one of the longest production runs in U.S. history. All the features function both aesthetically and symbolically, providing an artistic expression of national heritage and classic artistry.

Rarity and Collectibility Factors for the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin

The 1846-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagle was one of the rarest varieties in American coin collecting. Only 4,808 coins were minted at the Charlotte Mint. A fire in 1844 further limited its supply.

Key Rarity Factors

The following are the key factors that make this particular coin rare:

• Survival: many coins were melted in the course of the Civil War.
• Strike quality: recovery from the fire affected the quality of coin production at the mint.
• High-grade examples: very few coins have survived in excellent condition.
• Population Data and Scarcity

The population of MS63 Mint State 63 coins demonstrates the scarcity of the 1846-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagle:

• 3 graded at MS63 or finer are certified.
• Combined, fewer than 50 exist in mint state grades.
• Most survivors are worn or damaged.

Collection Issues with Other Mintages

In addition to the Charlotte Mint issue, collectors must be aware of the other mintage issues:

• 1846 (Philadelphia). Survivals are much more frequent, but gems are elusive above AU58 (About Uncirculated 58).
• 1846-O (New Orleans). This is an issue that strikes are soft and surfaces often terrible; gem pieces are super-valuable.

Competition from Collectors

These are factors that have brought heavy competition from collectors.
Authenticated examples of the 1846-C Liberty Head Quarter Eagle are highly precious when appearing at auction because so few are known. MS63 coins are scarce, too, so each quality specimen that emerges is an event in numismatic circles.

Market Trends and Investment Potential in the Current Numismatic Landscape for the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin

In this regard, the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle appears promising in the current numismatic market. High-end versions of this specific coin have been on a stable uptrend, as reflected in recent Heritage Auction data.

• MS63 specimen pieces have sold between $25,000 and $35,000
• MS64 example pieces are selling at values between $45,000 and $60,000
• MS65 grades can be very rare and achieve six-figure prices at some specialized auctions

The Mint Mark and Its Effects on Investment

The various mint marks on the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle further create different investment opportunities that investors can consider:

• These are the Philadelphia Mint pieces: no mint mark. Pieces in AU grade sell for the price range of $12,000-$15,000
• New Orleans : O. Pieces in a similar grade sell for about $15,000 – $20,000.
• Charlotte (C): $30,000 or more because not so many are produced

Annual Appreciation Rates

Market data from the experts, coin dealers points that the highly graded specimen of this coin is showing annual appreciation in value at an steady rate of 5-8%. This growth thus presents the historical significance with regards to the coin plus an appeal to collectors.

The Competitive Market Landscape

About 85% of known specimens are in the hands of private collectors and therefore highly competitive in market dynamics. Every time this specimen comes up for public auction, it causes enormous interest if it still bears its original mint luster and very few contact marks.

Factors that contribute to investment strength

Its historic value
Availability is few
The demand of the collector is strong on all grades.

Professional grading services report a decrease in submissions; this means fewer undiscovered specimens are circulating.

Besides the Liberty Head series, another investment worth has the gold half-dollar series of 1847, which was made in Charlotte, solely for the reasons that characterize it to be unique and significant. With the celebration of 125 years of coin collecting numismatics, these types of coins undoubtedly would remain worth monetary value besides forming cherished collectors.

Conclusion

The 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is an epitome of American coins. This rare coin represents artistry, development, and innovation in the middle 1800s. Each of three mint locations depicts the story of America’s growth.

• What makes this coin so timeless is its significance during pivotal times in U.S. history.
• Super artistry on the design of Christian Gobrecht
• Its rarity, most importantly in the higher quality grades
• Good potential return in the present market

No matter how long one has been a coin collector, the 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is going to give any collector who has this a chance at a piece of American history. Think of this treasure joining hundreds of appreciative collectors and adding another important milestone to U.S. coinage history in your collection. The story of 1846 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is still being written. It is an exciting future ahead for collectors and investors.

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