Surviving population of 1843-O Seated Quarters
seatedlib3991
Posts: 722 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have been doing some research about 1843-O quarters but many guides seem to lump both the large and small O together. Not even sure if this is a recognized variety? Doesn't seem to be in my Redbook circa 2001, 2009, 2016. Is there a good guide as far as actual surviving population? Also would be curious how other Seated Quarter collectors view this date. Any feedback appreciated. James
0
Comments
An 1843-O Large "O" quarter was the first coin I ever collected. My grandfather received it in change at a Chicago business in 1933 and thought it unusual enough to save it. He gave it to me in 1956. I still have it. I is a VF with some scratches.
Love a coin with a story @291fifth. Sometimes my head just makes up things. For instance, my most recent win is an 1838 Seated Dime with small stars. I can just hear the guy who made the wrong size stars getting chewed out or warned to take a few sick days, lol. James
Briggs (1991) recognizes the large O as a variety, but the Redbook doesn't. I don't pay very much attention to LSQ quarter varieties so I'm neutral. I would call the 1843-O a better date, scarce in AU and rare in MS. Two photos of coins I've owned follow.
PCGS VF30 CAC - the current coin in my set.
PCGS AU53 CAC - wish I still owned this one!
Doug
I consider the 43-o a better date but not really scarce. The large O is an interesting variety because it's part of the 1842-43 transition from small to large dates, letters, and mint marks, across many denominations.
Here's the current coin in my set, VF35.
Anyone have a clue as to why the 1842-O small date is the more common coin but then in 1843 the Large date is the rare one? I tried the Newman Portal but I lacked the skills needed there. James
I believe the 1842-O small date is the rare variety.
There is an online copy of the Briggs book, which includes rariety estimates:
https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/Briggs/chapters.htm
This is the large O I used to own but sold it when I downsized the set and got rid of some of the varieties. F12
Thanks @yosclimber. I had part of that book saved on my computer but was missing much of the early date info. James
I have no idea about the surviving population of 1843-O quarters, but it's likely larger than you think due to numerous coins in poor condition that everyone ignores. If one were to try to count the existing 1843-O quarters, I think there would be thousands of damaged and AG-or-less coins out there. You'd never find them all because it's not even worth auctioning something in that grade range, except maybe on Ebay.
Now if you're talking about AU and Unc. examples of 1843-O, we could probably do an estimate. There aren't that many of this date out the in AU or better. Most of them are probably Details coins, so maybe take the certified population in AU50 or better and multiply it by 3 or 4?
Here's my PCGS VF35 for fun....
One of the uncounted. This is the only 43-O I have encountered. I am still looking for the other 40 or so that I am missing.