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Draped Bust Quarter Eagle $2 1/2 No Stars Obverse, 1796 MS [Type]

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Gold): 0.1284 oz +2.62%
$427.91
Draped Bust Quarter Eagle $2 1/2 No Stars Obverse, 1796 MS [Type]
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Rare and highly desirable as a one-year gold type coin. This is the first year of issue for the quarter eagle denomination. Stars were added to the design in the same year for the second type.

Obverse Description

Liberty with cap, facing right, in a plain field with the word LIBERTY across the top periphery. The date is centered at the bottom.

Reverse Description

The centerpiece of the reverse is the so-called "heraldic eagle" with wings fully spread and emblazoned with a shield replacing the chest. A ribbon bearing the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM hangs from the beak. The eagles right talon holds bundle of arrows and an olive branch in the right. Above the eagle's head are a group of stars and clouds with the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA at the top periphery. No denomination is mentioned.

Book Reference

Designer: Robert Scot. Weight: 4.37 grams. Composition: .9167 gold, .0833 silver and copper (net weight .14131 oz. pure gold). Diameter: Approximately 20 mm. Edge: Reeded. Mint: Philadelphia.

Key to Collecting: This particular type is one of the great objects of desire in the American coinage series. It is popularly thought that just 963 were struck, this being from early delivery reports. There is always the possibility that the same die combination could have been used later, but if so the additional number would have been small, as the total production of quarter eagles during this decade was minuscule.

The starless obverse design is unique among gold coins of the period, giving this type a special desirability. The reasons for the omission of stars are not known today. Perhaps it was thought that stars on the Heraldic Eagle reverse, which made its coinage debut with this type, would suffice. Later, stars were added to the obverse design, but not to this die—a different obverse die was made, creating the next type listed here. Examples of the starless obverse type are very scarce in all grades, especially so at higher levels. Circulated coins are very rare, typically EF or AU, often with a generous amount of luster, particularly on the reverse. Mint State examples are also few and far between. Just a few exist, mostly at the entry or MS-60 level or thereabouts.

Aspects of Striking and Appearance: Most pieces are lightly struck in one area or another, and finding an example with sharp details to Liberty’s head, the word LIBERTY bold, and with the reverse details sharp, plus sharp denticles on obverse and reverse, is an impossibility. However, among those that do exist there are variations, and some selection is recommended.

Notes: There is no indication of the denomination of this coin on the obverse, reverse, or edge.

Catalog Information

GSID: 72371
Designer: Robert Scot
Obverse Designer: Robert Scot
Obverse Lettering: LIBERTY, 1796
Reverse Designer: Robert Scot
Reverse Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Fineness: 0.9167
Weight (gr): 4.37 gr
Weight (oz): 0.1405 oz
Precious Metal Weight: 0.1284 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 20
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Reeded
Variety: No Stars Obverse
Variety 2: 1796
Coin Date: Draped Bust Quarter Eagle
Denomination: $2 1/2
Designation: MS
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 963
Coinage Type: Gold Quarter Eagle
Coinage Years: 1796-1807
Composition: 91.67% gold; 8.33% silver & copper
PCGS #: 7643
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Coin Value History
Draped Bust Quarter Eagle $2 1/2 No Stars Obverse, 1796 MS [Type]
Value By Grade
Draped Bust Quarter Eagle $2 1/2 No Stars Obverse, 1796 MS [Type]
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Gold): 0.1284 oz +2.62%
$427.91
GSID:72371 PCGS:7643 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values by grade for Draped Bust Quarter Eagle $2 1/2 No Stars Obverse, 1796 MS [Type]
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS65 CAC $3,600,000 $1,234
MS65 - $2,880,000 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234

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Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
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1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS60 NGC. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS60 NGC. ...
$244,000
Sold 1/14/2026
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU55 PCGS....
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU55 PCGS....
$180,000
Sold 4/30/2025
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU50 PCGS....
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU50 PCGS....
$152,400
Sold 9/12/2024
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS62 PCGS....
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS62 PCGS....
$492,000
Sold 11/16/2023
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS63 PCGS. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS63 PCGS. ...
$990,000
Sold 1/5/2023
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4 -- Damaged, Plugged -- NCS. VF Details. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4 -- Damaged, Plugged -- NCS. VF Details. ...
$16,800
Sold 7/14/2022
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4 -- Plugged -- NCS. XF Details. ...
$60,000
Sold 1/14/2022
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU58 PCGS. ...
$174,000
Sold 4/24/2021
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-1, High R.7, XF45 PCGS. CAC. ...
$144,000
Sold 6/4/2020
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS61 PCGS. CAC. ...
$396,000
Sold 6/14/2018
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU53 PCGS. ...
$102,812
Sold 8/14/2016
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, VF30 PCGS. ...
$88,125
Sold 5/1/2016
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars--Damage, Mount Removed & Tooled--Genuine PCGS. This PCGS number ending in 98 Damage as the reason, or ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars--Damage, Mount Removed & Tooled--Genuine PCGS. This PCGS number ending in 98 Damage as the reason, or ...
$31,683
Sold 10/4/2011
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars VF35 PCGS. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars VF35 PCGS. ...
$83,375
Sold 6/29/2008
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars MS65 PCGS. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars MS65 PCGS. ...
$1,725,000
Sold 1/12/2008
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU55 PCGS....
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU55 PCGS....
$204,000
Sold 1/15/2025
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU50 PCGS. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, AU50 PCGS. ...
$168,000
Sold 1/12/2023
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS62+ PCGS. CAC. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS62+ PCGS. CAC. ...
$2,160,000
Sold 1/13/2022
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars on Obverse, BD-2, R.4, MS63 NGC. ...
$300,000
Sold 1/9/2020
Heritage Auctions
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars--Rim Damaged, Cleaned--ANACS. VF20 Details. ...
1796 $2 1/2 No Stars--Rim Damaged, Cleaned--ANACS. VF20 Details. ...
$48,875
Sold 1/12/2008
Heritage Auctions
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