1874/1874 Gold Quarter - BG-776

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,055 MS65 04-24-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1874 California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar (BG-776) is an octagonal gold piece measuring 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. Like the majority of California fractional gold pieces, this coin bears a Liberty Head portrait on its obverse, executed in the miniaturized style necessitated by the tiny planchet. The reverse presents the denomination value and date, typically encircled by a laurel or oak wreath. The octagonal format is one of the distinctive hallmarks of California fractional gold coinage, distinguishing these pieces from conventional round coins and adding visual interest that has long attracted collectors. This variety displays an overdate (1874/1874), 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

Collectible. Period Two California fractional gold coins are encountered more regularly than Period One issues, though all fractional gold remains a specialized collecting area with limited overall supply. The 1874/1874 overdate is a collected variety that typically brings a premium over non-overdate issues of the same year and denomination.

Cross References

BG-776; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10603; NGC #501776; California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar; Octagonal; Period Two (1859–1882)