1821 B-4 Bust Quarter G-T-G : 200 Year Anniversary

1TwoBits

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this month's thread was delayed. I hadn't pulled my images for this month when I realized the certificate number was locked and unattainable in the cert. verification system because I had sent it in to PCGS and the order was logged in. Everything is back to normal, so I can now post the 1821 Browning 4 variety with pictures.

The 1821 B-4 variety is called an R-3 in both the Rea/Peterson/Karoleff/Kovach book on bust quarters, and the Tompkins book. The Tompkins book notes the obverse has a dentil count of 123 and the reverse has a dentil count of 121, while the edge reed count is 108. It's not something I really pay attention to, but it's interesting how the mismatches occur. Sometimes its by coincidence, and other times its when obverse and reverse dies from different years are paired. In this case, the obverse die is from the previous Browning-3 variety while the reverse is the same that was used for the 1820 B-2 and B-5 varieties. Tompkins also mentions the existence of at least one proof example.

The obverse and reverse diagnostics have been mentioned in prior threads, and both quarter books indicate a second remarriage for the Browning-4 variety. There are the usual die cracks and clashing, and the obverse and reverse dies are eventually lapped, removing some die lines and clash marks. The Tompkins book notes that the latest die state with a die crack from the hair curls through star 12 to the rim as the scarcest.

The example below was in an NGC holder before I eventually crossed it to PCGS, and it was the very first bust quarter I acquired. It was purchased 21 years ago (4/18/00) from the venerable Mary Sauvain at the 2000 Cape Canaveral FL EAC Convention. I really liked the coin when I first saw it, and it started me off on my bust quarter variety quest. I know, shame on me buying early silver at an early copper convention, but I couldn't resist. It sounds counter productive, but I did buy some early copper as well. Feel free to guess the NGC and PCGS grades if you'd like, and any comments are always welcome. If you have an 1821 B-4, please post a picture of it.

I'll also note that this coin looks much whiter to me in hand than in the Trueview. I've always been a little perplexed with the shade of tone in the Trueview. It's a mid-die state example with a great deal of obverse and reverse clashing, along with the bars at Liberty's ear. Does anyone have the latest state with the die crack at star 12?

1TwoBits

scubafuel

Great coin! I’ll guess 62. I don’t have an example to share unfortunately.

pursuitofliberty

That is a gorgeous example (even if, as you say, the color is "off")!

I also agree with @scubafuel I think the coin is probably graded Uncirculated, and if so I would also place it in the 62 camp.

I have the common reverse on a 1820 B-2 (which is an AU), but no 1821 to share

jom

Great coin...love it.

I've got a 21 but it's not a B4 (a B2).

jom

1TwoBits

I realized I never posted the grades for this one.

NGC had this coin as MS63, and it crossed at grade to PCGS.

Thank you for posting.

1TwoBits