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Varieties of 1805 draped bust quarters
Baley
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Quarter dollars dated 1805 were minted in five die varieties for a total of 121,394 coins.
The 4 obverse and 4 reverse dies were prepared by hand and differ to the naked eye in the spacing and orientation of the date, letters, stars, denomination, etc.
Browning-1:
Note that on the somewhat scarce B-1, the 5 in the date barely touches the bust, and note the relative spaces between the first star and the hair, and the last star and the drapery, and on the reverse, and note that the D touches the third feather of the wing, and see the spacing of the C. to the tail, and compare to the next sets of dies.
Browning-2:
The B-2 typically has a weak right side of the R in Liberty, and a noticeable gap in the dentils above the E in States. Here the C touches the eagle's tail. This is a slightly scarce die marriage. note defects at the feet of some of the letters and numbers, and compare and contrast with next
Browning-3:
the B-3 is the most common variety, if you can call any 1805 quarter "common", with probably less than 1000 extant in all conditions. Anyway the B-3 often has a weak E, and the obverse die shows several cracks in the later die states, along with heavy clash marks. this is the same reverse as the B-2 with the gap above the E.
Browning-4:
the fairly scarce B-4 has the 1 in the date very low and the 5 not touching the bust, and the gap between stars 1 and the bust is much larger than the small space between the last star and the drapery. Interestingly, here the C crowds the eagle's tail, overlapping the first and touching the second feather, while there is a larger space between the D in United and the fourth (not 3rd) feather in the left (facing, eagle's right) wing. Further, this obverse die was still in good enough condition after new year's day that they used (due to scarcity of die steel) the unusual process of reannealing the obverse and punching a 6 over the 5 in the date, creating one of the most obvious overdates in US coins, the 1806/5 B-1 quarter.
Browning-5
The rare B-5 uses the obverse of B-1 with a new reverse similar to reverse B but with a gap in the dentils over the I in America.
if anyone has a nice 1806/5 to show, or show any draped bust quarter you may have!
The 4 obverse and 4 reverse dies were prepared by hand and differ to the naked eye in the spacing and orientation of the date, letters, stars, denomination, etc.
Browning-1:
Note that on the somewhat scarce B-1, the 5 in the date barely touches the bust, and note the relative spaces between the first star and the hair, and the last star and the drapery, and on the reverse, and note that the D touches the third feather of the wing, and see the spacing of the C. to the tail, and compare to the next sets of dies.
Browning-2:
The B-2 typically has a weak right side of the R in Liberty, and a noticeable gap in the dentils above the E in States. Here the C touches the eagle's tail. This is a slightly scarce die marriage. note defects at the feet of some of the letters and numbers, and compare and contrast with next
Browning-3:
the B-3 is the most common variety, if you can call any 1805 quarter "common", with probably less than 1000 extant in all conditions. Anyway the B-3 often has a weak E, and the obverse die shows several cracks in the later die states, along with heavy clash marks. this is the same reverse as the B-2 with the gap above the E.
Browning-4:
the fairly scarce B-4 has the 1 in the date very low and the 5 not touching the bust, and the gap between stars 1 and the bust is much larger than the small space between the last star and the drapery. Interestingly, here the C crowds the eagle's tail, overlapping the first and touching the second feather, while there is a larger space between the D in United and the fourth (not 3rd) feather in the left (facing, eagle's right) wing. Further, this obverse die was still in good enough condition after new year's day that they used (due to scarcity of die steel) the unusual process of reannealing the obverse and punching a 6 over the 5 in the date, creating one of the most obvious overdates in US coins, the 1806/5 B-1 quarter.
Browning-5
The rare B-5 uses the obverse of B-1 with a new reverse similar to reverse B but with a gap in the dentils over the I in America.
if anyone has a nice 1806/5 to show, or show any draped bust quarter you may have!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
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Awesome set!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
NoEbayAuctionsForNow
Nice thread, Baley!
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
cool on this board.
grade and rarity aside, I really like the original look of your Browning-4 example.
What history these old coins could tell!
Ken
In the family collection, from Pinnacle:
.25 1806 NGC XF40
Draped Bust, Browning-3, Rarity-1. "Perfect medium to deep grey with very even coloration. As is typical of this variety, the centers have a somewhat sunken appearance which gives the impression of more wear than there actually is. The surfaces and rims of this lovely example are nearly perfect with an absence of the circulation marks and/or mint-made defects often seen. An extremely undervalued type in comparison to other silver denominations of this era and an exciting, affordable coin that is getting ready to celebrate its 200th birthday sooner than you are."
Nice orginal look
KJ
Here is another 1806 B-2, note the crowding of the tail, the C., and the A in AMERICA, and the flag of the 5 in 25 is buried in the arrow feathers
(also, note that the photo is wrong for the B-2 reverse in the latest Browning book revision
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
<< <i>Does anyone have an example of the rare B-5 to show the board? >>
Sorry, no B-5. How about another B-2?
<< <i>Does anyone have an example of the rare B-5 to show the board? >>
It's ugly, but it is a B-5:
Still negotiating with the seller on it.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Can you explain how we know it's an 1805, and a B-5 at that?
(btw, I agree with you on both counts
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
<< <i>Thanks Rich,
Can you explain how we know it's an 1805, and a B-5 at that?
(btw, I agree with you on both counts ) >>
Obverse: Can see part of the top of the 5, plus L&I are very close, and B is in same alignment but separated from the I, plus L is distant from star 7.
Reverse: Second S in STATES is over top of right side of cloud 4 (all other 1805's have the S further right), plus second T in STATES is over the top of left side of cloud 3 (all other 1805's have the T further right).
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>Does anyone have an example of the rare B-5 to show the board? >>
I wish. I had two in inventory at one time and have owned another since (3 total), but they sell quickly. The best I ever had was a problem-free F-VF. I bought one on eBay back in the late 90s that was properly attributed, but sold for a scant $400.
I still think that it is underrated and should be R.6.
the B5 is a toughie, thanks for the pic and text, Rich.
I've upgraded a little bit from the first B-4 posted, this coin more closely matches the condition of the other 3.
Moving on to 1806 varieties in the next thread, so any more 1805s to show, let 'em go!
DANG Mozin, that high grade example is gorgeous!
(please put me on the waiting list
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Kinda ecstatic as this is one of the better 1805's that I have seen that was still raw (albeit plugged) and in my price range....thought that it was a regular one and now I find out that it is a B-5 !!!
Hell, I don't need to exercise.....I get enough just pushing my luck.
Low grade pieces are less frequently attributed than higher grade ones and can sometimes yield varieties worth a premium, even for "problem" coins.
adequate detail still remains on this coin, including all of the notable features of the B5; good coin for a numismatist to study.
the patch is not expert work but I believe above average and also worthy of closer examination
Thanks again!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry