1869 $2.50 (1869 Quarter Eagle) PCGS MS61. This extremely rare, mint state 1869 Quarter Eagle is lustrous in the protected areas and has a sharp, full strike. The highest points of the hair, the centers of the stars, the eagles neck, and the lower left of the shield are all fully detailed. Not a trace of wear is seen on the coin, in keeping with the mint state grade.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. It was minted from 1840 to 1907, the longest span of any coinage series without any major design modification. In that period of time 11,921,171 Liberty Head Quarter Eagles were minted.

Gobrecht 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 of the coin. The reverse 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 D. is below, separated from the inscription by dots.

In 1859 James Longacre, who was now the Mint Chief Engraver, slightly modified the reverse by making the arrowheads smaller and further apart; however, in San Francisco the old reverse was used until 1867. In 1866 it was mandated that the motto IN GOD WE TRUST be added to all coinage large enough to accommodate it. It was decided that the quarter eagle was too small for this modification.

With a mintage of less than 4500 coins, the 1869 quarter eagle is rare in all conditions. In its population report, PCGS has 2 certified in MS61 with 6 better.