Numismatic

1861 $2.50 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle Type 2 AU-58 NGC

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Struck at the Philadelphia Mint during a pivotal year in American history, this 1861 gold quarter eagle carries a face value of two and a half dollars. The coin is composed of 90 percent gold, containing 0.1209 troy ounces of the precious metal. This specimen has been certified in About Uncirculated 58 (AU-58) condition, preserving the intricate details of its mid-nineteenth-century craftsmanship. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle her profile, representing the original colonies, with the year 1861 anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, a proud heraldic eagle clutches an olive branch and arrows, its chest protected by a striped shield. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the central design, with the abbreviated denomination 2 1/2 D. positioned below the eagle. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, this specific design type was produced by the United States Mint over a remarkably long span, from 1840 to 1907. This particular piece represents the early Civil War era of the series, serving as a tangible artifact of American coinage history.