1847 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

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

Liberty Head Quarter Eagles were struck at all four United States Mint facilities in 1847. The 1847-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle carried the lowest mintage of the year with just 15,784 pieces, and on paper it looks like the rarest of the four issues, followed by the 1847-C. The reality is somewhat different. While the Dahlonega and Charlotte strikes are indeed scarce (especially in Mint State), the 1847 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle struck at the Philadelphia Mint is scarcer. Possibly 150 or more survive in grades above Extra Fine. In our opinion, this is an undervalued date.

Some 1847 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles have the “18” of the date repunched. This variety was first reported in a 1951 New Netherlands auction. For this variety, the base of the 1 is the most visibly doubled and touches the denticles.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Assembling this group of noteworthy specimens was a challenging endeavor. Several coins have crossed and upgraded over the years, and the quality of early 2000s digital imaging is not always as high as one would like. Polluting the PCGS census is an MS62 coin that has not been removed from their data set. Others possibly exist, given that specialist dealers likely trade this date privately.

Top Population: PCGS MS64 (1, 11/2024), NGC MS63 (3, 11/2024), and CAC MS64 (1:0 stickered:graded, 11/2024).

• PCGS MS63 CAC #25205024: As PCGS MS62 #05912247. Heritage Auctions, December 18, 2007, Lot 11948 – $5,175; Heritage Auctions, September 28, 2007, Lot 3211 – $4,887.50. As PCGS MS62 #11522951. Heritage Auctions, June 27, 2008, Lot 1820 – $4,743.75; Heritage Auctions, April 30, 2010, Lot 3452 – $4,600. CAC added; Heritage Auctions, January 6, 2012, Lot 6112 – $4,600. As PCGS MS63 CAC #25205024. Heritage Auctions, June 15, 2018, Lot 5023 – $14,493.60. Upgraded by one point. Deep cut above eye. Long vertical cut to the left of ear. Curved cut between stars 2 and 3. Horizontal cut from tip of star 1 to neck. On the reverse, there is a curved cut from the space below U to the top of the denomination. Carbon spot above E of UNITED. Earlier 05912247 cert. number was not been removed from the PCGS census.
• PCGS MS62+ #42163206: As ICG MS63. Stack’s, September 13, 2003, Lot 447 – $4,140; Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2021, Lot 5672 – $3,840; As PCGS MS62+ #42163206. PCGS user OldGoldIsMoney. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Regraded by PCGS, where the coin downgraded by one-half point. Stain between 4 and 7. Stain between bust truncation and star 13. Dark spot to the right of star 5. Light hit on the bridge of Liberty’s nose. On the reverse, there is a copper spot above the branch. Eagle’s right leg weak. Die crack from rim to O of OF.
• PCGS MS62+ CAC #33783818: “The R.L. Miles Collection,” Stack’s, October 1968, Lot 137. As PCGS MS62 #3459315. “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, October 1999, Lot 395 – $7,475. HW Bass Jr Coll on insert; Heritage Auctions, July 29, 2002, Lot 8950 – $3,565. As NGC MS62. “The Charleston Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, September 18, 2005, Lot 1101 – $6,900. As PCGS MS62+ CAC #33783818. “The Early Aurum Collection,” Heritage Auctions, May 5, 2023, Lot 5032 – $6,300. Upgraded by one-half point. Repunched 18. Lustrous, almost PL surfaces. Cameo devices. Scruffy area under OF. Die crack through fraction.
• NGC M62 #3839169-002: Heritage Auctions, April 24, 2015, Lot 6072 – $3,525; Heritage Auctions, April 2015, Lot 6072; Heritage Auctions, September 13, 2024, Lot 3531 – $4,320. Gouge between stars 5 and 6. Lintmark between star 1 and 1 of the date. On the reverse, there is a die crack to O of OF. Planchet lamination under TA of STATES.
• PCGS MS62 #05912247: Heritage Auctions, December 18, 2007, Lot 11948 – $5,175; Heritage Auctions, September 28, 2007, Lot 3211 – $4,887.50.
• NGC MS62 #1784519-001: Heritage Auctions, January 14, 2005, Lot 8553 – $4,312.50. Cut between 7 and star 13. Dark copper spot at the eagle’s right talon.
• NGC MS62: Numismatic Gallery to John Jay Pittman, 1949 – $16. As “Almost Uncirculated.” “John Jay Pittman Collection,” David Akers, May 1998, Lot 1755; As NGC MS62. Stack’s, September 13, 2003, Lot 448 – $3,680. Gouge on Liberty’s jaw. Curved lintmark to the right of star 3. Scattered chuff in the field to the left of stars 12 and 13. Stain on eagle’s left wing. Die crack to O of OF.

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1847 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications

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