1819 B-3 Bust Quarter G-T-C : 200 Year Anniversary
1TwoBits
Posts: 464 ✭✭✭✭
For the month of March, lets look at the 1819 Browning 3 variety bust quarter. It has what PCGS designates the "small 9" in the date, and it is considered an R1. It's interesting to note that the Rea/Peterson/Karoleff/Kovach book on bust quarters calls it the "normal 9," while other books call it the "small 9." I think the "normal 9" may be more appropriate if I interpret it correctly. One book recognizes that the nine is the same size as all the other numbers in the date and not smaller than a "normal 9." Others call it a "small 9" because it's smaller than the "large 9" used for obverse dies 1 & 2 on varieties 1 & 2 respectively.
Maybe this is just the way PCGS and others designate coins from other series as well? I don't know, but it seems that if there is a large digit in the date of a die marriage and also another die marriage of the same date with a smaller digit in the date (even though it's the same normal size as the other digits), they refer to the normal one as smaller. Now that I've lost anyone that was reading....or if you are still reading, what do you think?
The 1819 Browning 3 variety has some interesting die anomalies. For example, the reverse denomination "25 C ." has a repunched 5, and there is an additional period above where the normal period is, almost forming a colon. The upper period is lighter than the lower normal one.
For the die state enthusiast, we have a few things going on if you like die cracks. There is one die crack found on the obverse from the rim to star 11 (through the lower 2 star points) and across to the curls. Then there is another die crack from the rim up between the 1 & 8 in the date, across the bust and into the field above (this comes in various stages). On the reverse, a die crack developed from the rim, through the 5 in the denomination, and up to the arrow feathers. These die cracks are all on the example below, but they are a bit difficult to see due to the toning.
Feel free to guess the PCGS grade if you'd like, and comments are always welcome. If you have an 1819 B-3, please post a picture if you're able.
1TwoBits
Comments
I don’t have a B-3 yet (I only have a B-1), but yours is very nice... my guess is AU55.
In the Tompkins bust quarter book, he speculates that since the style of punches used to form the 25 C. are the same style used to make the 1818 reverses that this reverse was possibly a leftover from 1818 (along with the 25/50 reverse used in 1822 and 1828). The unique “quirks” of these coins make them really fun to collect.
Another great looking quarter! Here is my humble B-3; you can just make out the crack at S11.
Beautiful example, I'll guess she grades 56, possibly 57.
Hey, I was able to find my coin pictures for 1819 B3! It used to be so easy to post pics, before the forum "upgrade" when we had a dialog box with our index of uploads. Now far more difficult.
Anyway, in all its glory:
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
This 1819 B3 was one of the first bust quarters I owned, found on ebay circa 2000 or so. I still like the originality and I got it slabbed much later for protection.
@NSP, could you post your B-1 to the 1819 B-1 thread that 1Twobits started? Link below:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1011595/1819-b-1-bust-quarter-g-t-c-200-year-anniversary
We could always use more bust quarter pics on this board!
It’s up! Now that thread has the full gamut from AU and XF coins down to my G4 coin.
And here everyone is guessing grades.
I thought G-T-C was Guess The CAC, that is Green bean or Gold bean.
BHNC #203
Pretty coin.
AU55? Gorgeous coin.
Best, SH
A very clean and nice 55.
Beautiful coin in the OP and great color!
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
Here is mine, the lack of luster in the image is the lighting, I have to reshoot and bring that out.
Sunshine Rare Coins
sunshinecoins.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Nice thread participation!
Well on our way to displaying
a grading set
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
theres never enough of them here on the forums
Everybody is right on the money with their guesses. The coin is PCGS AU55. It came from Sheridan Downey's 2011 ANA Sale and is from the Roger Solomon collection. One of those rare times when Sheridan's sale contains denominations other than bust halves.
Lots of great pictures posted, and so nice to be able to look at all the grades and die states represented. Thanks to everyone for posting! Next month, the Browning 4.
1TwoBits