Coin

2½ Dollars "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle" (1849) — United States

United States • 1849 • KM# 72, PCGS# 1817, 7717-7732, etc.

2½ Dollars "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle" (1849) — United States

Overview

A gold 2½ Dollars coin of the United States, also known as the Quarter Eagle, minted in 1849 at the Charlotte Mint (C mintmark). Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the coin features a coronet-adorned Liberty and a reverse eagle. Struck with a limited mintage of 10,220 pieces in .900 gold.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1849
Composition
Gold (.900) (.100 copper)
Weight
4.18 g
Diameter
18 mm
Mint
United States Mint of Charlotte
Mintmark
C
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 72, PCGS# 1817, 7717-7732, etc.
Issuer
United States

Design details

Obverse

A coronet head left with the date below and 13 stars around the rim representing the original 13 colonies Script: Latin Lettering: LIBERTY 1907 Engraver: Christian Gobrecht

Reverse

Eagle with arrows and olive branch in talons Script: Latin Lettering: ·UNITED STATES OF AMERICA· 2½ D. Engraver: Christian Gobrecht

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Christian Gobrecht is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: United States Mint of Charlotte (mintmark C). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 10,220 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Gold issue: Gold (.900) (.100 copper) — bullion demand competes with numismatic demand. Weight and fineness (not just face value) drive the melt-value floor.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 72, PCGS# 1817, 7717-7732, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The year 1849 marked a critical juncture in American monetary history as the discovery of gold in California began to flood the domestic economy with bullion. This specific issue from the Charlotte Mint reflects the regional demand for gold coinage in the Southern United States during the peak of the local gold mining era in North Carolina. As a branch mint established specifically to process locally mined gold, Charlotte's production was vital for regional commerce before the San Francisco Mint was established.

Design heritage

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the Third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, the Coronet Head motif was inspired by neoclassical artistic trends of the mid-19th century. The obverse features a left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with 'LIBERTY', while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch and arrows. Gobrecht is well known for his work on the 'Seated Liberty' coinage, and this design remained largely unchanged on the Quarter Eagle for over sixty years.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1849 issue was struck at the Charlotte Mint, denoted by the 'C' mint mark located on the reverse above the denomination. The edge is reeded, a standard security feature for gold denominations of the period to prevent clipping or filing of the precious metal. Collectors should examine the placement and rotation of the mint mark, as slight variations in die punching were common across the Philadelphia, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Dahlonega branch mints.

Survival and modern availability

With a recorded mintage of only 10,220 pieces, this issue is significantly scarcer than its contemporary Philadelphia counterparts. Many Southern gold coins were lost to heavy circulation attrition or were melted down during the American Civil War to fund military efforts. Surviving examples are often found in lower grades, and Mint State specimens represent a tiny fraction of the original production due to the lack of contemporary numismatic preservation.

More from United States

Other 2½ Dollars "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle" issues

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