1868 $2.50 (1868 Quarter Eagle) NGC MS61. This rare, post-Civil War 1868 Quarter Eagle is tied for the second finest. The coin is well struck with full details on the highest points of Liberty’s hair, the centers of the stars, the eagle’s neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield and lower part of the eagle. No wear is present, as expected for a mint state coin, and the surfaces are clean for the grade. Muted mint luster is seen within the devices on both sides.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Liberty Head quarter eagle. He used the coronet motif for his design. It shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her hair is tied in the back with beads as two curls flow down her neck. On the coronet the word LIBERTY is inscribed. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars and the date, which is below the truncation. At the periphery of the coin are dentils on both sides. The reverse of the shows a heraldic eagle with wings outstretched looking to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. The inscription 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, separated from the inscription by dots.

As an anti-counterfeiting device, these coins were completely hubbed except for the date and mint mark. The dates were entered by hand. The coinage act of 1865 specified that motto IN GOD WE TRUST should be added to all coins large enough to accommodate it. The Mint interpreted this law to mean that the motto had to be added to silver coins larger than the dime and gold half eagles, eagles and double eagles. Because of its size, the quarter eagle was exempt.

With an original mintage of 3,600 the 1868 quarter eagle is scarce in all conditions. In mint state it is rare. In its population report, NGC shows 13 1868 quarter eagles in MS61 with 2 better.