1845-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

In 1845, Liberty Head Half Eagles were struck at the Dahlonega, New Orleans, and Philadelphia mints, with the P-mint issue having the highest mintage by a wide margin. With a mintage of 90,629 coins, the 1845-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle is the most plentiful D-mint quarter eagle, making it a popular date for those assembling a set by mint.

U.S. gold coin specialist Doug Winter has identified two varieties for this issue. The 12-I is the more common of the two and can be distinguished by the left shift of the date. Some of these examples were struck with clashed dies.

In United States Gold Coins, An Analysis of Auction Records, Volume I (1975), numismatist David Akers estimates a surviving population of 64 pieces, rare above Extra Fine. More survive than that, however, as the grading companies CAC, NGC, and PCGS report a combined population of over 600 pieces.

In Mint State, the 1845-D is scarce, but at least 50 About Uncirculated examples exist. As with all 19th-century gold, nearly every AU or better coin has been processed to some degree.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS65 (1, 7/2024), NGC MS64+ (1, 7/2024), and CAC MS65 (1:0 stickered:graded, 7/2024).

• PCGS MS65 #38634092: New Netherlands Coin Company, July 5, 1956; “The Norweb Collection,” Bowers and Merena, October 1987, Lot 817 – $66,000; Mike Brownlee; “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, October 1999, Lot 948 – $57,500; Dwight Manly; Kevin Lipton to Doug Winter and Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, 2003; Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2004, Lot 1047 – $57,500; “The C.W. Collection,” Stack’s, August 11, 2006, Lot 1394 – $80,500. 12-I. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Cluster of ticks in the field above the bust truncation. Die clash marks.
• PCGS MS63: Joe Flynn, via private treaty, March 1978; Harry W. Bass, Jr. “The Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, Part II,” Bowers and Merena, October 1999, Lot 949 – $20,700; Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2004 – $24,150. 12-I.
• NGC MS63 #1633877-024: “The Ashland City Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 11, 2003, Lot 4753 – $13,800. Winter 10-H. Diagonal hairlines. Rim hit on the back of the neck. On the reverse, there is a tick between leaf and branch. 10-H. ASHLAND CITY on insert.
• PCGS MS63 #5549772: As Brilliant Uncirculated. “Numisma ’95,” Stack’s / Rarcoa / Akers, October 1995, Lot 1459 – $15,400; “The Milas Collection,” Stack’s, May 1995, Lot 459 – $22,500. As PCGS MS63 #5549772. “The Chestatee Collection,” Heritage Auctions, August 13, 1999, Lot 7677 – $14,950.
• PCGS MS63: “The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, 1982, Lot 437 – $10,450; “Duke’s Creek Collection”
• PCGS MS62 #25205239: “The John O. Sykes Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, August 25, 2022, Lot 6105 – $18,000. Hit on nostril. Thin cut on jawline. Cluster of hits on bust truncation. Scratch between stars 6 and 7. Cut to the left of star 12. On the reverse, hits in the upper right field. 13-H.
• NGC MS62 #3600641-009: Heritage Auctions, August 3, 2012, Lot 5360 – $16,450. Tick below star 5. Rim hit at 11 o’clock. On the reverse, curved die crack through legend at the bottom. Eagle is well-struck.
• NGC MS62: S.S. New York; Stack’s Bowers, July 27, 2008, Lot 2065 – $14,950. Rim hit under jaw.
• PCGS MS62 #21893814: As PCGS MS62 #50027995. Heritage Auctions, January 30, 2004 – $12,650. As PCGS MS62 #21893814. Heritage Auctions, June 27, 2008, Lot 1989 – $11,500. Hit on nose. Thin scratch on jaw. On the reverse, die crack through the bottom inscriptions. Green-gold color.
• PCGS MS62: American Numismatic Rarities, June 23, 2004, Lot 1414 – $14,950; “The Frog Run Farm Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, November 30, 2004, Lot 1802 – $13,800. Triangle-shaped planchet flaw in Liberty’s hair.

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1845-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications

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