1882 Proof Quarter Pattern - J-1698, Shield Earring

Coin Details

Auction Record

PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS realized $126,500 at Heritage Auctions.

Description

The Shield Earring quarter pattern of 1882, George T. Morgan's adaptation of his celebrated Shield Earring design to the twenty-five-cent denomination. The obverse features a youthful Liberty facing right, wearing a band inscribed LIBERTY across her hair and the distinctive shield-shaped earring that defines this pattern family. Thirteen stars frame the portrait — six right, seven left — with E PLURIBUS UNUM above and the date 1882 below. The reverse presents a powerful, defiant eagle with raised wings facing right, clutching an olive branch and three arrows, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and QUARTER DOLLAR below. Struck in silver with a reeded edge, this quarter shares the same obverse and reverse concepts as the half dollar (J-1700) and dollar (J-1702) Shield Earring patterns, adjusted for the smaller module. Pattern specialists rank the Shield Earring alongside the Amazonian and Schoolgirl as the three most beautiful American pattern coin designs. The quarter version is considered by many to achieve the most harmonious balance of Morgan's design elements, with portrait and eagle proportioned ideally to the twenty-five-cent module.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). Low R.7, with approximately 9 specimens documented.

Cross References

Judd J-1698, Pollock P-1900