1872/1 Gold Quarter - BG-870

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,410 MS66 08-10-2016 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as BG-870 in the Breen-Gillio reference, this 1872 round California gold quarter dollar measures approximately 10 to 11 millimeters in diameter — smaller than a modern dime. Produced during the later period of California fractional gold coinage, this piece reflects the continued market for small gold coins on the Pacific Coast, whether for everyday transactions, souvenirs, or the jewelry trade. This piece displays the characteristic Liberty Head obverse typical of its Breen-Gillio catalog group, with the denomination indicated on the reverse. The die engraving on California fractional gold pieces, while necessarily simplified by the small planchet size, often exhibits surprising detail and craftsmanship given the constraints of the medium. The remarkably diminutive size is one of the distinctive hallmarks of California fractional gold coinage, making these among the smallest coins ever struck for genuine commerce and adding a novelty that has long attracted collectors. This variety displays an overdate (1872/1), where a new date was punched over an earlier date already present in the die. Overdates in the California fractional gold series provide evidence of die reuse — a practical economy measure by the private coiners who manufactured these pieces. The traces of the underlying date are typically visible upon close examination, and overdate varieties are sought by specialists for the insight they provide into production practices.

Rarity Notes

Available in the California fractional gold market. Period Two pieces are the most frequently encountered fractional gold issues, though condition and specific variety affect value significantly. The 1872/1 overdate is a collected variety that typically brings a premium over non-overdate issues of the same year and denomination.

Cross References

BG-870; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10731; NGC #501870; California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882)