Gorgeous Prooflike 1796 Quarter!

Bustman · April 22, 2005 11:36PM

I don't usually go for them there white coins..... but this one,,

nwcs · April 22, 2005 11:43PM

Now that is one you have to see in front of ya!

ER · April 22, 2005 11:47PM

Incredible!
Question for the experts: How the heck does a 200+ year-old coin stay white like that? Has it been dipped?

jleland · April 22, 2005 11:49PM

Amazing! Bravo!

Bustman · April 22, 2005 11:51PM

I would say yes, it has been dipped. But it's still very pretty. I don't know how many prooflike examples there are, but this is the first one I have seen.

ER · April 22, 2005 11:55PM

I agree. Dipped or not, it's a legendary rarity, and a beauty.

Steve · April 23, 2005 12:08AM

IMHO if that is really what the coin looks like it is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm afraid it may be a photoshop picture. Steve

Baley · April 23, 2005 12:14AM

From Browning: "... Col. E.H.R. Green had a total of 200 uncirculated 1796 [quarters]... about half more or less prooflike, the remainder not.... There are also about seven prooflike presentation coins, including [the one in the] J. Stack Collection and others.."

rays · April 23, 2005 12:18AM

I haven't seen this one in person but I have seem other prooflike mint state examples; they are't terribly rare. What about the spots on this one? It will interesting to see what it hammers for.

boiler78 · April 23, 2005 12:22AM

If I am not mistaken that coin is coming up for auction May 25 as part of ANRs Worthington collection sale. I looked at those coins in Kansas City and the coin is deeply prooflike and bright white. I personally didn't like the overall look because it was too white. IMO it looked like a Gallery mint reproduction. There are plenty of great coins in the sale though. My personal favorite is the 1837 no stars proof dime in NGC pr 65 with great color.

DorkGirl · April 23, 2005 12:30AM

"IMO it looked like a Gallery mint reproduction." Funny, that was my first thought too.

poorguy · April 23, 2005 12:34AM

Holy Cow!

Bustman · April 23, 2005 12:46AM

Like I said, I don't like white coins either, but between the coins PL fields and an excellent strike, I think the coin has far above average eye appeal for a 1796 qrtr. And although the 1796 qrtr is not a major rarity, they are by NO means a common coin. Very tough to find nice examples as most are locked away in strong hands.
As I buyer, I would go for an original toned qrtr any day. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate this coins beauty. It's all a mute point anyway as this coin is WAY out of my price range.

coinguy1 · April 23, 2005 1:04AM

<< IMHO if that is really what the coin looks like it is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm afraid it may be a photoshop picture >>

That is what the coin looks like (I've seen it in person), but it's not worth "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in that condition.

LeeG · April 23, 2005 1:13AM

<< Auction May 25 as part of ANRs J. B. Worthington Collection. There are plenty of great coins in the sale though. >>

I just browsed the lots in this one. "Simply Amazing"! Time to take out a 2nd on the house and participate in this one! Heres the link for those who may be interested:

J.B. Worthington Collection

Bustman · April 23, 2005 2:36AM

Mark,
What do you think about the coin??

prooflike · April 23, 2005 2:43AM

I'm a sucker for prooflike coins, that's really nice!

goose3 · April 23, 2005 3:35AM

simply an amazing coin.

mgoodm3 · April 23, 2005 4:46AM

Nice, but too white for me.

I'd prefer one more like this one for sale at the moment.

roadrunner · April 23, 2005 4:52AM

That is a very nice 1796 quarter, however I'm sure I would have loved it more before it was dipped out. Too bad the dipper left some dip residue on the obverse to document his tracks. Appears to be a nice MS63 or 64.

roadrunner

t3rr0r1sm · April 23, 2005 4:56AM

big ta tas with a scrawny eagle.

now i see why people back in the day were not satisfied with that eagle.
but oh yea, nice ta tas.

Steve · April 23, 2005 5:03AM

<< 

<< IMHO if that is really what the coin looks like it is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm afraid it may be a photoshop picture >>

That is what the coin looks like (I've seen it in person), but it's not worth "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in that condition. >>

Mark and others,
My comments were "off the top of my head" and obviously incorrect. I apologize. I knew only 6,146 were made but didn't know so many were saved. Anyway, I better stick to my Lincoln series. Steve

stev32k · April 23, 2005 10:02AM

Sorry, but I don't like that coin at all. As someone else pointed out it looks like a Gallery Mint coin. I would never want a coin like that in my collection - rare date or not. I think it's a damn shame to do something like that to a really rare coin (assuming it is not counterfeit).

Baley · April 23, 2005 10:19AM

must be nice to be able to turn your nose up at an uncirculated 1796 quarter (a prooflike one, no less)

F117ASR · April 23, 2005 10:21AM

Fantastic piece. For something that old to survive in that condition is fascinating. I don't take what the anti-blast white coin lovers think. I think it is amazing. Though it does have a fake look to it (as some said - a reproduction)

ER · April 23, 2005 10:42AM

Here 's my lowly 1796 quarter.

Varlis · April 23, 2005 11:05AM

<< must be nice to be able to turn your nose up at an uncirculated 1796 quarter (a prooflike one, no less) >>

That's what I'm thinking. That quarter is ridiculous. (in a good way)

stev32k · April 23, 2005 1:50PM

<< must be nice to be able to turn your nose up at an uncirculated 1796 quarter (a prooflike one, no less)>>

It's not a matter of turning a nose up - it's a matter of personal opinion. To me the coin does not look real it has obviously been throughly cleaned and in the process lost it's appeal. It looks like a fake. Kind of like an old masters painting with the paint still wet.