1848-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

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

The Dahlonega Mint struck 13,771 1848-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagles. Not the highest quarter eagle output from the Georgia branch mint, but it would be the last $2.50 emission to reach this number as D-Mint mintages would fall off significantly beginning in 1852 and the mint would cease operations at the start of the Civil War.

The Philadelphia Mint sent Dahlonega three die pairs for 1848, but only two varieties are known. Both use the same obverse die and are distinguished by the placement and orientation of the “D” mintmark.

While typically well-struck for a Dahlonega Mint coin, denticulation on the reverse is poorly defined in the upper left and lower right quadrants.

* * *

Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

In David Akers’ United States Gold Coins, An Analysis of Auction Records, Volume I (1975), the gold coin expert estimated a surviving population of 69 pieces.

The Chestatee coins were Dukes Creek duplicates.

No coin has been added to the PCGS and NGC population of top-pop MS63 coins in almost 20 years.

Top Population: PCGS MS63 (7, 9/2024), NGC MS63 (3, 9/2024), and CAC MS64 (1:0 stickered:graded, 9/2024).

• PCGS MS63 #37589815: Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2019, Lot 1152 – $24,000. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts.
• PCGS MS63 #13997366: As PCGS MS63 #06126001. Stack’s, January 2, 2007, Lot 1154 – $26,450; Heritage Auctions, August 9, 2007, Lot 1833 – $25,300. As PCGS MS63 #13997366. Heritage Auctions, June 27, 2008, Lot 1824 – $27,600; Heritage Auctions, October 14, 2011, Lot 4669 – $21,850. Two diagonal hits on the cheek/jaw. Thin diagonal scratch at the base of the neck to curl. Small diagonal mark at the bottom right of star 3. Carbon spot between stars 7 and 8. Thin mark above star 10. On the reverse, there is a cluster of marks under the eagle’s left wing. Two diagonal ticks below the second T of STATES. Diagonal mark across OF.
• PCGS MS63 CAC #21026476: Auction ’80, RARCOA, Lot 1936 – $11,000; Arthur Montgomery; Auction ’84, Stack’s, Lot 1317; George Elliott; Mid-American May 1986, Lot 1863 – Passed. Leon Farmer; As PCGS MS63 #5549752. “The Chestatee Collection,” Heritage Auctions, August 13, 1999, Lot 7648 – $28,750. Top pop, pop one but considered inferior to the Duke’s Creek coin by the cataloger. Bob Harwell / Jeff Garrett; As PCGS MS63 CAC #21026476. “The Green Pond Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2004, Lot 1026 – $23,575; Heritage Auctions, April 24, 2014, Lot 5693 – $25,850. Green Pond on insert. Wispy blue toning. Deep diagonal gouge on chin. Thin diagonal mark on left tip of bust. Ticks between stars 8 and 9 and 10 and 11. On the reverse, die crack from eagle’s left wing to AM.
• PCGS MS63 #5549746: “The Chestatee Collection,” Heritage Auctions, August 13, 1999, Lot 7641 – $20,700. One of two Chestatee coins. Cert number no longer active.

* * *

1848-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications

* * *