Seated Quarter For Grading

MS-64

I'll guess a conservative but MS62 nice color and die cracks. Looks like it would have nice luster in hand. I like it

64

Graded ms64

Mike F - yes I own this one

Thanks Mike. It was tough, because this one is replacing a proof. Quarters are tough to find toned though as you definitely know with your dollar set

I can answer your question from my own point of view. A few proofs in my series of choice (2 cent) are better than a business strike 1864 Small Motto ($25K to start with an impaired one if you can even find an offering, so out of reach to most) and 1873 are proof only issued.

1872 business strikes in high grade (MS66 or better) are much tougher to find with original color and without flyspecks or stains. While the proofs of 1872 are a dime a dozen and always available in most high end grades.

The rest of the 2 cent series, when I put together my collection of slabbed MS66/PR66 coins (I only lacked the 1864SM proof in any grade).The business strikes were a lot harder and took much longer to complete than the proofs did, in fact I probably could complete a proof set (excepting the small motto) in a week tops.

Over all high end business strikes can be tougher to find because I think they weren't saved like proof coins were saved. Proofs call out as "presentation" and "special coins" so "save me" - wrap them up in a tissue, keep it in your coin purse in a drawer, I think is just how so many proof coins exist today. People got them as gifts or handed down from grandpa, so they were saved. People don't usually save the best looking coin from the bank, I'm thinking "non-collector", but more of a "coin saver" most people save interesting or different coins with no real collection direction.

And lastly as collectors begin to specialize we look at varieties in the series we study, many more coins are struck for circulation, using many more dies, so more varieties to study and find.

I love this coin, nice score