1872 $2.50, DCAM PR(PCGS#97898)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3119

Grade

PR63DCAM

Price

28,800

Lot Description

A glittering Deep Cameo Proof quarter eagle of this elusive date, with a mintage of just 30 pieces in his format. (Circulation strike 1872 quarter eagles are likewise key date coins, the mintage a mere 3,000 pieces.) The surfaces of this lovely specimen are consistent pinkish-gold with the finish showing the desirable cameo contrast between fields and devices. Fully struck and nicely composed, both the quality and eye appeal suggest that the Proof-63 numeric grade is conservative.<p>The entire mintage of this Proof issue was achieved on February 3, 1872, and from a single pair of dies; the reverse die was first used in 1868, and would continue to coin Proof quarter eagles through 1878. With a mere 14 to 16 coins believed extant (per John W. Dannreuther, 2018), both the rarity of this issue and the fleeting nature of this offering are beyond doubt.