1853 Seated Liberty Quarter - Reverse Die Crack

sowolf

Hello, I am a novice coin collector (about 2-3 years now). I am just getting into quarters, and found a 1853 Seated Liberty Quarter with a large reverse die crack (through the top of STA). I looked online but couldn't find much on varieties. I also looked through several hundred 1853 quarters on Ebay and couldn't find any with a similar die crack. Any quarter experts out there that might know if this is a rare die variety, or that can point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

sowolf

Sorry I can't seem to attach the images... I compressed them to under 50K, uploaded them, but they won't attach for some reason?

sowolf

Here is a link to the images in Photobucket...

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac263/sowolf/20131125153746_zps42406272.jpg

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac263/sowolf/20131125153747_zps7e2f2f64.jpg


[URL=http://s906.photobucket.com/user/sowolf/media/20131125153746_zps42406272.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s906.photobucket.com/user/sowolf/media/20131125153747_zps7e2f2f64.jpg.html][/URL]

Billet7

There are many 1853 coins with various varieties and die states that have die cracks. While it may be more rare than your standard 1853, I don't think you would get a premium when you sell it. It's a neat oddity, but not enough people are concerned with die cracks on that particular date to generate enough interest. Now, on the other hand, if it were broken away, forming a CUD, then there would be much more interest in the piece.

Hope it helps, and Welcome to the forum, good to have another Seated Quarter Collector!!!

Billet7

I've got the book on Seated Quarters, I'll try to see if I can find mention of the coin you have...I seriously doubt it, since there are oodles of 1853 varieties, many of which weren't even documented in the book, but I'll give it a shot.

sowolf

Thank you very much for the info. I greatly appreciate it. Just out of curiosity, you mention that you have a book on Seated Quarters... which book is it, and do you recommend it?
I have been focused on Standing Liberties, and am just starting to scratch the surface on Seated, Bustcap, and Draped Bust quarters.


Thanks again.

Glenn-

ebaybuyer

im gonna say yours is an early die state of briggs 6-F obverse 6 paired with reverse F briggs refers to larry briggs, who authored the comprehensive encyclopedia of seated quarters (1991)

ebaybuyer

later die states become a CUD in the same area as your die crack. in 1853 the philly mint produced over 15 million quarters, this was more than 15 times as many quarters as were minted in any previous year for the seated design, the mint was obviously much more concerned with quantity than quality, and so the dies were used until they were no longer usable, the 1853 quarters have a plethora of broken and cracked dies, all interesting but probably not all that rare unless one die is largely obliterated by a cud.

sowolf

Very Helpful. Thank you.
Do you recommend his book? I just looked it up on Amazon, and it looks like it got 2 very good reviews.

Thanks again.

Glenn-

fastfreddie

I recommend it as well as the Liberty Seated Collectors Club.

lscc

ricko

Die cracks are just plain interesting..... strangely enough, they have become more interesting to me lately.... hmmmm, hope it is not the start of another collecting frenzy... Cheers, RickO

ebaybuyer

larry's book was the best and only thing going in 1991, much of the information is still useful today, but a new reference is LONG overdue