1877 Quarter Eagle - 1877 $2.50 PCGS AU58. This low mintage 1877 quarter eagle is characterized by its bold strike. Full details are on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair above her ear, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. Just the slightest trace of wear on the highest points confirms the near-Uncirculated grade. The surfaces are original and clean aside from a tiny scratch near Libertys ear. Bright mint luster is found within the devices on both sides, which along with the strike, gives the coin its outstanding eye-appeal. 

Christian Gobrecht designed the quarter eagle. It was produced without substantial modification from 1840 to 1907, the longest span in any United States coinage series. It uses the Coronet design which shows Liberty in profile facing left, her hair tied tightly in beads, except for two curls one down the back of her neck and the other on the side below her ear, with the word LIBERTY inscribed on the coronet. She is surrounded by thirteen stars, and the date is below the truncation. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle facing left holding arrows and olive branch it its talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs around it, interrupted by the wing tips, and the denomination 2 D. is below. The denomination is separated from the legend with dots.

In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle. 

The 1877 quarter eagle had an original mintage of 1,632 pieces, which makes it rare in all grades. In its population report, PCGS shows 11 in AU58 with 20 better.