Information about 1840-O quarters
RogerB
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The following excerpt gives us a contemporary view of the reason so few 1840-O quarters were struck.
April 16, 1840
(Patterson to Woodbury regarding New Orleans Mint, excerpt.)
...I have to state that the New Orleans Mint has a quarter dollar press, and has had quarter dollar dies sent to it from here [Philadelphia], in January and in March. If no quarter dollars have been coined, I must presume that it is because they have not been asked for by depositors. Of all silver coins (except dollars), they are by far the least in demand here. At New Orleans, the coin most required of the Mint is the half-dime, in which a petty traffic is carried on, in consequence of its being current at 6-1/4 cents. I agree, however, fully with Mr. Burton that quarter dollars ought to be coined at New Orleans, and I will call the attention of the Superintendent to this matter.
[RG104 Entry 216 vol 05. Available at NNP.]
Comments
I'm sure the 2 reale was more popular/in demand in NO than a U.S. quarter was at this time.
Nevertheless, interesting information as always!
The gems of numismatic interest that you uncover Roger are amazing.... Thanks for your efforts. Cheers, RickO
One of the interesting follow-ups to this discussion is that the single most common "O" mint Liberty Seated quarter based on observations of availability is arguably the 1840-o (all varieties combined, all grades combined). Which other "O" mint quarters might challenge it for this dubious distinction? Perhaps 1853-O With Arrows or 1856-O? Part of this anomaly arises from the 1982 discovery of the New Orleans hoard, which contained numerous 1840-o quarters. However, it is still a puzzler. One might suppose that because the quarters did not circulate so well in the 1840s, a lot of these were set aside and discovered many years later. But what about the other 1840s "O" mints, which are presently scarcer?