1825 B-1 Bust Quarter G-T-G : 200 Year Anniversary
1TwoBits
Posts: 462 ✭✭✭✭
I'm late with the 200th anniversary of Browning varieties for this year. With only one variety in 1824, 1825 isn't as lonely for bust quarter variety collectors as 1823, 1824, or say 1826 or 1827.
The 1825 Browning-1 variety, the first of three, is called an R-5 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 125, the reverse has a dentil count of 124, the edge reed count is 108.
The obverse die for the 1825 B-1 marriage is used for only the 1825 B-1. There are two obverse die states. An early state, and then a late state where die chipping occurs between the flag and upper curve of the 5 in the date. The reverse die was reused after striking the 1824 B-1 die marriage and continues to show a die engraving line that was left coming off the lowest arrowhead extending towards the end of the olive branch. There is an early die state for the reverse, and also a later state with a die crack from the rim to E1 in UNITED.
As I've mentioned before, the reverse die is a favorite of mine and went on to be used with the 1828 B-2 die marriage. The easiest way to attribute the 1825 B-1 is to look for the die engraving line coming off the lowest arrowhead on the reverse. This die marriage is somewhat scarce in all grades, and can be difficult and expensive to locate in higher grades.
The example below was submitted to PCGS years ago in an NGC holder for crossing (this is a Phil Arnold Trueview). Feel free to try and guess the NGC and/or PCGS grade if you'd like, and I’ll reveal Saturday night. Comments are always welcome, and if you have an 1825 B-1, please post a picture of it.
If you don't have an 1825 B-1, please post a picture of any bust quarter (but save your 1825 B-2’s and B-3’s for now). It's the first full day of spring, my birthday today, and I enjoy seeing any bust quarters in all grades.
1TwoBits
Comments
Tough coin especially in that condition.
Beautiful example. Thank you for posting, I've grown very fond of the B-1 variety, likely because it has been so challenging for me to find one in grade/quality that appeals to me, but also the reverse die and the assorted other marriages it is involved in.
I'll guess the example posted was an NGC 58, and now a PCGS 55.
Thanks as always for working thru the series with these great posts.
My very humble example below-
Fantastic coin and great write up!
I think she's a 58.
Oh, and Happy Birthday!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
55
Gorgeous, but too bad it was cracked out of an old ngc slab
53
Niccce!
I'm in the 55 camp as well. That's a really nice looking coin 🪙, I like 👍
Love that coin! When I was collecting Bust quarters, it took seemingly forever to find an 1825 B-1 in a medium circulated grade without damage. So I agree with the R5 rating in the Bust Quarter reference books.
I'm going to guess that the quarter in the original post is now a PCGS MS62. I guess I'm a bit of a contrarian.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
I guess your grade is a 62 maybe 63 - below is my B-1- (unforunately - its a horrible pic)
@1TwoBits Happy Birthday!
@EastonCollection Great example of B1 and some dentil tracks as well.
This B1 example is my current 1825 quarter in my VF/XF date set.
From what I’ve seen, the “filled 5” die state is 2-3 times harder to find than the earlier die state.
The example I posted, from the Brentwood Park Estate, was NGC AU58, which actually crossed at PCGS to AU58+, an unusual occurrence to me.
It looks like @marmac and @scubafuel have the later die state, while my example and @EastonCollection have the earlier die state. Kudos to scubafuel for picking up the dentil tracks on Easton collection's storied example.
@RobertScotLover, I hear you on the holder, but at least it wasn't a REAL old holder.
Thank you for the posts and comments. those are all very nice examples.
1TwoBits