Is the 1827 Quarter actually a medal?

MrEureka

I stumbled on this Numismatic News Alan Herbert 2012 Q&A via Google:

Q: A confusing problem: Some sources list the 1827 quarters as regular issues, some as proofs, including the one sold in the Garrett sale. Please clear this up.

A: Mint records list a mintage of 4,000, but R.W. Julian believes these were struck with 1825 dates. Walter Breen, in his book on proofs, estimates “12 1827 proofs” and lists the pedigrees for nine of them. The Garrett piece, sold for $190,000, is one of the four proofs obtained by Joseph J. Mickley directly from the Mint in 1827. Julian mentions one known 1827 circulation strike and elsewhere describes the proofs as “technically and legally … medals struck with coinage dies.”



Perhaps Denga or someone else can explain, please.

Billet7

I too await a response. Thanks for asking the question.

denga

<< <i>I stumbled on this Numismatic News Alan Herbert 2012 Q&A via Google:

Q: A confusing problem: Some sources list the 1827 quarters as regular issues, some as proofs, including the one sold in the Garrett sale. Please clear this up.

A: Mint records list a mintage of 4,000, but R.W. Julian believes these were struck with 1825 dates. Walter Breen, in his book on proofs, estimates “12 1827 proofs” and lists the pedigrees for nine of them. The Garrett piece, sold for $190,000, is one of the four proofs obtained by Joseph J. Mickley directly from the Mint in 1827. Julian mentions one known 1827 circulation strike and elsewhere describes the proofs as “technically and legally … medals struck with coinage dies.”

Perhaps Denga or someone else can explain, please. >>



All proof coins (with the exception of the 1836 Gobrecht dollars) struck prior to 1860 are in fact technically
medals as they were not delivered as coinage. The law required that certain steps be taken by mint officials
before a struck planchet became a legal coin, including signed warrants.

The 1827 quarter dollars are similar to the 1858 silver dollars; in both cases there was no regular coinage
and today we have only the proofs made for collectors and no official records of their being struck. Other such
instances include the 1841 quarter eagles and half cents of 1836 and 1840-1848. Beginning in 1860 proof
gold and silver coins were delivered by the coiner according to law but minor coins of bronze and copper-nickel
were not officially delivered until 1878; this means, for example, that the 1877 nickel is also technically a medal
because there was no official coinage of nickels in that year.

Prior to 1854 proof coins were struck ‘off the books’ by the chief coiner. With minor exceptions they were made
available to collectors at face value. In 1854 the striking of proofs passed into the hands of the mint director but
such pieces were still issued at face value through 1859. Beginning in 1860 a premium was charged.

hchcoin

Thanks denga

Baley

And Pluto isn't a "planet" anymore, now it's a "dwarf planet", one of many such bodies "out there"

The piece of rock and ice itself doesn't notice the distinction. It is what it is, despite humans changing the labels.

As for 1827 quarters, I agree with Steve Tompkins classifications in his book: Essays, Originals, and Restrikes