The Classic Head gold $2.50 quarter eagle is represented by 21 die marrr for the common Philadelphia Mint issues. An Extremely Fine 40 1834 No M example, shown, is valued at $1,000, according to Coin World's Coin Values.

I am often asked which series in the early federal coinage is the most underpriced or offers the best value for money spent.
My answer used to be the quarter dollars, but they have advanced in value significantly in the last couple of years.

The half dimes and dimes have done well also and still do offer collectors the opportunity to nearly complete sets over time. The attribution guides available in these two series are among the best in all of numismatics.

The half dollars have led the silver issues for many years but have lagged behind copper coins. That leaves us with the relatively virgin territory of gold.

A reliable attribution guide has not yet been published for the Classic Head gold series of quarter eagles and half eagles for collectors to use, but one is in progress. John McClo-skey is currently putting the finishing touches on the guide that will bring the collecting of these series into the 21st century. Until then, it will take some personal diligence on the part of the collector of these two rewarding series. It may be the time to get started, to beat the rush once the manual comes out!

Both series were produced for a very short period of time, the quarter eagles from 1834 through 1839 and the half eagles from 1834 through 1838.

These were also the first series of gold coins to be minted at the Branch Mints. The quarter eagles were produced in the Charlotte Mint in 1838 and 1839, and at the Dahlonega and New Orleans

The Branch Mint products of both denominations are much more expensive than the Philadelphia Mint coins and require a substantial financial commitment to obtain them. So, let's concentrate on the issues of the Philadelphia Mint.

The quarter eagles are represented by 21 die marriages from the Philadelphia Mint and the half eagles by 31. Coin World's Coin Values prices for the most common quarter eagles are as follows: Very Fine 20, $600; Extremely Fine 40, $1,000; and About Uncirculated 50, $2,000. The quotes for the $5 pieces are VF-20, $700; EF-40, $1,100; and AU-50, $2,000.
Keep in mind the scarcity of these series as a whole. Total mintages were 968,228 quarter eagles and 2,113,612 half eagles.
You can build a respectable collection qf these wonderful coins from the Philadelphia Mint on a budget and have fun looking at many unattributed pieces.

You will have to develop your own set of notes to identify the different die marriages until the book is published, but you will be learning many valuable lessons in how to inspect a coin.

Coin World