1839-C $2.50 (1839-C Quarter Eagle) PCGS XF40. This scarce, Southern branch mint, Classic Head 1839-C Quarter Eagle has the unusual feature of an obverse mintmark. The coin has an above average strike with good details on the higher areas of hair and the rims on both sides. Sufficient separation exists in the lines of Liberty’s hair to confirm the grade. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade.

The Classic Head Quarter Eagle was minted from 1834 to 1839. Designed by William Kneass, it shows a head of Liberty in profile facing left. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed headband that reveals the curly hair on top of her head, which also flows down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below. Dentils are around the periphery of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with its head facing left. In its talons are olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips. The denomination, written as 2 ½ D. is below. The C mintmark for Charlotte was on the obverse between the truncation and the date.

The Classic Head motif chosen by Kneass is a copy of John Reich’s Large Cent design of 1808-1814 and the half cents of 1825-1836. The eagle design is also similar to an earlier Reich eagle designed for gold coins. In the early days of the branch mints, obverse mintmarks were used to indicate the place of manufacture. Gobrecht’s designs that followed had reverse mintmarks.

In the 1790’s gold was accidentally discovered in North Carolina. The first United States Gold Rush took place in the early 1800’s in North Carolina and Georgia. In the area around Charlotte, North Carolina almost 100 gold mines were in operation. Second only to farming, prospecting for gold became the main source of employment in North Carolina. The most gold produced in the United States came from North Carolina until 1848, when it was discovered in California.