1838 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar, Mint State-65 (PCGS)
Browning 1

Browning 1 - This is the only die marriage currently known for the year. Struck from perfect dies, with no die cracks or clashing yet evident.

Dusty amber and rose toning blends to deeper blues and violet near the rims. Boldly struck but for a few stars that show weak radials, yet all of the other fine details are sharp and complete. Contact marks set the grade, with abrasions in the lower left obverse field above Liberty's bust line and a grazing reverse mark below ITE the most prominent.

1838 is a scarcer date Capped Bust Quarter in Gem Mint State, and is seen far less often than the most available 1831, 1834 and 1837. PCGS reports only four certified as MS-65 with a single MS-66 higher. Additionally, Heritage has offered only one PCGS MS-65 in their archives (1/2006:3150 @ $13,800 then 8/2006:5174 @ $19,550), a specimen with fewer contact marks but much deeper toning. This PCGS MS-65 was previously certified as NGC MS-66, and is still included as one of three MS-66s reported by NGC with none finer.

Provenance:

• (Heritage 2/2005: lot 6528 @ $13,800 as NGC MS66)
• (Heritage 1/2009: lot 3734 @ $28,750 as NGC MS66)
• (Heritage 5/2009: lot 618 @ $18,400 as NGC MS66)