1865 San Francisco Quarter Eagle - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 10 / Views: 269
jecz79 Pillar of the Community Portugal 767 Posts	Posted 10/19/2026 6:20 pm This is one of the reasons why I have been curious about civil war era gold. First one of these dates I have held personally. This was part of a large bullion hoard of old sovereigns held by a family. Sole coin from the USA. It is extremely rare to find here USA coins from dates before the 1890 decade. I suppose they were not much exported. Or they were but were molten into sovereigns and other european coinage. Earliest one I had seen before was the 1878-S half eagle. How would you grade it? I think that the die or dies for this year were weak. The punches could be worn? But I have not found many nice photos of others to compare. Report this Post to the Staff

Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 80382 Posts	Posted 10/19/2026 8:37 pm I'm thinking maybe AU? Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
westernsky Pillar of the Community United States 7736 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 03:23 am I'm in the AU50 to 53 grading range. Nice, scarcer coin! Thanks for sharing! Report this Post to the Staff
IndianGoldEagle Bedrock of the Community United States 37235 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 08:31 am Nice AU-53. Report this Post to the Staff
panzaldi Bedrock of the Community United States 18975 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 08:58 am whats interesting here is that we have an AU gold coin that obviously has seen enough circulation to take some wear yet we are not really seeing marks, scratches or scuffs on her that you would typically see due to the softness of the metal. its a nice example. AU53 Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 198004 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 09:26 am I see it as lower to mid AU. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
psuman08 Pillar of the Community United States 1880 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 12:09 pm It appears softly struck in the center. Having looked at comparables on Heritage, I think this makes AU-58. It is stronger than the 55s but a bit weaker (strike) than the most recent 58. Report this Post to the Staff
jecz79 Pillar of the Community Portugal 767 Posts	Posted 10/20/2026 9:19 pm Thanks. This is my first truly old west coin and is a keeper for my foreigns collection.The 1878-S half eagle was a little late for that era. If I did not find so troublesome to sell any coins I would now part with that one I think that the weak leg on the eagle was a die problem. Other well conserved coins are also like that. Elsewhere the impressions of the bust and eagle are good.This coin saw some circulation before going into a hoard so I can handle it without concern. It has two small bag marks near the fifth star from the right. And I dropped it on a keybord before noticing it was rare. Fortunately plastic is softer than gold. Report this Post to the Staff
IndianGoldEagle Bedrock of the Community United States 37235 Posts	Posted 10/21/2026 09:31 am jecz79, your 1878-S half eagle is part of the old west. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday ran Tombstone AZ in the early 1880's. Things were pretty wild until after the 1890's. Report this Post to the Staff
Jaobler Pillar of the Community United States 6456 Posts	Posted 10/21/2026 2:00 pm I would agree this is a solid AU coin, with no significant hits or obvious defects. Your photos don't show any luster but there should be some given the light wear. Can you comment about luster quality based on your in-hand inspection? According to Coin Facts this date is exceptionally scarce in AU and almost unknown in uncirculated. Congratulations on owning this beautiful coin! Report this Post to the Staff
jecz79 Pillar of the Community Portugal 767 Posts	Posted Yesterday 08:40 am There is some original luster in the more protected areas. It can be noticed in the photo with sunlight. But the coin had some circulation. There is some dirt on it. That luster is lost in the higher or most exposed areas. My picture of the old west is from movies. They depict things changing as the railroads arrive. But right railroads only arrived after the 1860 decade. I had a wrong idea that they came earlier. So you are right, 1878 is still old west! I just checked, the wild bunch has its action set in 1913 I had thought I overpaid for the coin but wanted it for historical value. Was surprised to see while cataloging that these seem very scarce, and expensive Edited by jecz79 Yesterday 08:50 am Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 10 / Views: 269

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