At the turn of the 1830’s, Mint officials began searching for an appropriate coin design that could serve as an enduring symbol of America. The design that was finally adopted was Christian Gobrecht’s Coronet design. After two years of planning, production of the Liberty Head $2.5 quarter eagle began in 1840.
The finalized design for the quarter eagle featured a large head of Liberty facing left. She is wearing a wide coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY and her hair is pulled back in a bun and secured with a string of pearls. Thirteen stars encircle the design, representing the original colonies. The eagle on the reverse was essentially the same one that had been on quarter eagles since 1808. Originally designed by John Reich, the 1840-1907 version was probably modified by Robert Ball Hughes. The heraldic eagle has its wings spread from rim to rim with the Union shield covering its breast. An olive branch representing the country's peaceful intentions is in the eagle's right claw, with three arrows emphasizing military preparedness in the left. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, with the denomination 2 1/2 D. beneath the bird.
Over the course of its 68 year production run, a total of 11,921,171 Coronet quarter eagles were struck. Five mints produced the coins; Charlotte denoted by the C mintmark, Dahlonega with the D mintmark, New Orleans with an O, San Francisco with an S and Philadelphia bears no mintmark.
4,232 proofs were coined. Early proofs are very rare, with only two or three pieces surviving from many years. Often, proofs have frosted white devices that contrast sharply against deeply mirrored fields. These "cameo" proofs are very popular as type pieces. Most of the proofs struck after 1901 have an all-brilliant finish with no field to device contrast. This brilliant finish continued until the end of the series in 1907, when Bela Pratt's sunken relief Indian Head design debuted, and the matte proofing process was adopted.
The 1848 CAL. Quarter eagle is undeniably the rarest of the series. These coins were struck from 230 ounces of local California gold that was shipped to the East coast in 1848. These coins are distinguished by the abbreviation CAL. stamped into the die above the eagle's head, and all authentic specimens have a square period after CAL. Many collectors consider these CAL. quarter eagles to be the first commemorative coins struck in the U.S., predating the Columbian half dollar by 44 years.
