Capped Bust Quarter 1820 Large O question...

RTS

A little out of my element so I hope the question is not too naive...

With respect to the large O varieties of the 1820 capped bust quarter is there any
premium between the B1, B2 and B3 of similar grade and if so can anyone quantify/ballpark it? - thank you.

numisma

The B-1 draws a premium in higher grades, but it would be hard to quantify. At the AG to VF level there is little to no premium, imho. There are relatively few people who collect this series by variety. You would have to put it into a major auction and hope that two people fight over it.

RTS

Thank you.

firstmint

The large 0 and small 0 1820 bust quarters have been labeled as such for many decades. This was created by previous cataloguers who didn't want to take the time to accurately attribute this date by variety. Unfortunately, the Guide Book (aka: Redbook) picked up on this and presented it, along with photos, it in their pages.

There is no reason to continue the different listings for these in the various price guides, as this situation can be the found on other dates (such as the 1819 for instance) which isn't even listed as large 9 and small 9, etc.

On the Bust Quarters, the size of the 5 in the denomination on the reverse is more varied than any single digit in any date; yet nothing is written about the different sizes and styles that were used. Perhaps the forthcoming early quarter book by Quarternut will have some commentary on this.

If there was a different size, 4 digit date, then it would be worth mentioning, but it really doesn't matter at all regarding the 1820 quarter issues.

Quarternut

In actuality there are three sizes of the 0 in the date for the 1820 Bust Quarters. A small, medium & large. The large 0 is found on the B-1 & B-2 die marriages as they share an obverse. The Medium 0 is found only on the B-3, and the small 0 is found on the B-4 & B-5, which share an obverse.

While not listed in the Redbook, probably the more significant item found on the 1820 Bust Quarters is the size of the obverse stars. The B-1, B-2 & B-3 have large stars, while the 1820 B-4 & B-5 have small stars. The small star punch was used on all of the quarters produced after 1820 until 1828.

(If I was at home I would post some pictures of these items but I don't have my picture files on my computer at work.)

The new star punch was most likely included in the group of punches purchased from long time supplier Henry Starr and paid for on April 28th, 1820.

QN

Quarternut

Also in answer to the OP, for the large 0, the B-1 is certainly the rarest die marriage as pointed out by Dennis (an R-4), but really only commands a premium when you reach EF-AU and above grades.

The condition census runs from PR-67 to AU-58

RTS

Thank you QN.

Quarternut

No problem RTS!

I finally had a chance to dig out the pictures to show these differences for the 1820 Bust Quarters.

Here is the Large 0...


The Medium 0...


The Small 0...(repunched by the way)


Here is the Large stars...


And the Small stars...

Quarternut

For the day crowd.

Quarternut

For the weekend!

thisnamztaken

Here's my 1820 B-3, QN, so I'm assuming that's the "medium O"? Like all B-3's, it has a die crack running through the stars on the left and down through the 18 in the date, although my weak eyes need a glass to see all of it.

Quarternut

Ahh... I also assumed at one time that all B-3's show the obverse die crack through the stars...however, there are B-3's with no obverse die cracks, but they are very rare indeed!

finding one!

thisnamztaken

<< <i>Ahh... I also assumed at one time that all B-3's show the obverse die crack through the stars...however, there are B-3's with no obverse die cracks, but they are very rare indeed!

finding one! >>



Well, I'm just going by what my 1998 Browning edition says, so I'll have to defer to you on that.

Quarternut

I am sure there are many things wrong in my book as well...so many coins...so little time...

I am sure someone will find all of the mistakes for me and make a handy list!