1846 Quarter Eagle Die Trial - J-110a

Coin Details

Auction Record

$33,600 MS65BN 09-17-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

This copper die trial of an 1846 quarter eagle ($2.50 gold coin) carries the Judd-110a designation, cross-referencing it with the regular pattern series rather than the appendix die trial numbering system used for most entries in this denomination. The obverse features the Liberty Head design by Christian Gobrecht, showing Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed "LIBERTY" with her hair gathered in a bun, surrounded by thirteen stars and the date 1846. The reverse displays a spread eagle with a shield on its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above and "2 1/2 D." below. The 1846 quarter eagle had a modest mintage of 21,598 pieces in gold from the Philadelphia Mint, plus 62,000 from the New Orleans and Dahlonega branch mints. This copper die trial was struck to verify the dies before gold production commenced — a sensible precaution given that each quarter eagle planchet contained valuable gold. Die trials of gold denominations in base metals are particularly prized by collectors because they provide an opportunity to study the dies without the premium associated with gold pattern strikes.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Copper die trials of gold denominations from the 1840s are extremely scarce, typically unique or known in two to three specimens.

Cross References

Judd-110a; Pollock-131