1842-C Quarter Eagle (1842 $2.50) NGC AU58. Ylang Ylang Collection. Bright mint luster emanates from the devices of this pleasant 1842-C Quarter Eagle. Light surface abrasion and slight wear on the highest points keep this coin from an uncirculated grade. The strike is above average on ERTY, and especially so on the reverse. Christian Gobrecht designed the quarter eagle using the coronet motif that was similar to the one in use for Large Cents beginning in 1839. The heraldic eagle was essentially a continuation of the devices used the previous years with slight modification.

Gobrecht’s Coronet quarter eagle remained in use as a design from 1840 to 1907. To minimize counterfeiting all quarter eagle dies were hubbed. That is, all of the design elements were part of the hub for every coin made. The only changes that had to be made were the date and mintmark. In the case of the present coin, a very small C is seen above the fraction of the denomination.

The 1842-C, a Southern Branch Mint quarter eagle is a highly collectible coin. All of the Southern Branch Mint coins are desirable because of their limited mintages and rarity. The present coin had an original mintage of 6,729, which means it is rare in all grades. According to its population report NGC has certified 8 in AU58 with 2 better.