Coin

2½ Dollars "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle" (1882) — United States

United States • 1882 • KM# 72, PCGS# 1817, 7717-7732, etc.

2½ Dollars "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle" (1882) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike gold 2½ Dollars coin of the United States, known as the "Coronet Head - Quarter Eagle". Features a coronet head of Liberty on the obverse and an eagle with arrows and olive branch on the reverse. Produced in 1882 in a limited mintage of 67 pieces. Composed of .900 gold and .100 copper.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1882
Composition
Gold (.900) (.100 copper)
Weight
4.18 g
Diameter
18 mm
Mint
United States Mint of Philadelphia
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 Philadelphia. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 67 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

During 1882, the United States was experiencing the Gilded Age, characterized by a return to gold-backed currency following the Specie Payment Resumption Act of 1875. The Quarter Eagle remained a staple of American coinage, though by this period, the denomination saw more use in bank reserves and international trade than in daily domestic transactions. This specific proof issue was produced at the Philadelphia Mint during a year of relatively low commercial demand for the 2.5-dollar gold piece.

Design heritage

The Coronet Head motif was created by Christian Gobrecht, who served as the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint and is famed for the Gobrecht Dollar. The obverse features a left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with her name, surrounded by thirteen stars. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows, a design that remained largely unchanged for the duration of the series from 1840 to 1907.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1882 issue was struck as a Proof at the Philadelphia Mint, featuring the characteristic mirror-like fields and frosted devices intended for collectors. As a milled coin, it carries a reeded edge and was produced using specialized high-pressure dies to ensure a sharp strike. Collectors should examine the sharpness of the eagle's feathers and the clarity of the stars to distinguish these specimen strikes from standard business issues.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of only 67 pieces, the 1882 Proof Quarter Eagle is a significant numismatic rarity. While many gold coins of this era were lost to the melting pots following the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, proof specimens were generally preserved by contemporary collectors. Despite this protection, the extremely low initial production ensures that survivors are infrequent appearances in the modern market and grading censuses.

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