1828 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Mint State-65 (PCGS)
Browning 4, Gem Prooflike, Ex Garrett

Browning 4 - Obverse with star 1 more distant from drapery than Browning 1, 2, and 3, all three of which share the same obverse die. Reverse with curled base 2, left end of scroll under right side of E, STATES OF close, F low. (Rarity 4)

Near fully struck from perfect dies with no sign of clashing, cracks, or die wear evident. All of the star radials are complete with only some of the star points a touch flat, Liberty's hair is sharp and finely detailed, and every eagle's feather is chiseled in bold relief. The fields appear to be planar and softly reflective, leading many past cataloguers to label this as a Proof striking. The surfaces are unquestionably original and beautifully toned in a natural blend of blue, violet, green and amber.

PCGS reports four 1828 Quarters certified as MS-65, including at least one duplicate submission of this coin, with none better. Incidentally, at the time of Eliasberg II in April 1997, PCGS had certified only one 1828 Quarter as MS-65, followed by four graded MS-63. Since there has been no hoard of 1828 Quarters to appear on the market in the intervening years, the increased populations are clearly the result of resubmissions of the same few coins. Nevertheless, this is certainly the Finest Known business strike for 1828, and one of my all-time favorite Capped Bust Quarters regardless of date or grade.

In comparison, the John Jay Pittman 1828 Quarter (David Akers 5/1998:1284), also a Browning 4, was catalogued as "Very Choice Proof, nearly in the Gem category", bringing $60,500. This coin, now certified by NGC as Proof-66, has more recently sold at $70,725 (Bowers and Merena 2/2007:284).

Provenance:

• (Samuel Hudson Chapman & Henry Chapman 3/1883) to T. Harrison Garrett
• Garrett Family ("Garrett II", Bowers and Ruddy 3/1980: lot 642 @ $60,000 as "MS-65 ... Possible Proof")
• Jerry Benson (Heritage 2/1999: lot 5900 @ $14,663 as PCGS MS65)
• ONR Private Client