1902 $2.50 Liberty PCGS MS65 CAC

This rendition features a more feminine portrayal of Miss Liberty facing to the left, adorned with a coronet bearing the raised inscription LIBERTY. She wears her hair in a bun secured by a string of pearls, with the date positioned below her and encircled by 13 stars. The design is elegantly simple and holds great aesthetic appeal. The reverse maintains the semblance of the design that had been in use since 1808. While there are slight variations in the size of the letters and numbers, the fundamental elements remain unchanged. Similar to its predecessor, the Classic Head, this Type does not incorporate the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The Classic Head Type was conceived as a temporary solution to reintroduce gold coins into circulation. Despite its remarkable success, it was never intended as a lasting design. The Mint sought a representation of Liberty that befitted a thriving, prosperous nation, and a mere reiteration of the 1808 Large Cent design fell short of the mark. In 1838, Christian Gobrecht fashioned a fresh design for the gold eagle, which received widespread approval and was subsequently adapted for the half eagle in 1839 and the quarter eagle in 1840. This design was believed to possess enduring appeal while fostering consistency across all three circulating gold coin denominations.

The Liberty Head Quarter Eagle holds the distinction of being the longest-running coin Type with minimal alterations in American numismatic history, spanning a consistent design for 68 years. Unlike its counterparts, the half eagles and eagles, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was never incorporated onto the quarter eagle. Within this extensive lifespan, several major rarities entice collectors. The scarcest Liberty Head Quarter Eagles are typically the pre-Civil War, low-mintage specimens from the southern Mints, namely Charlotte and Dahlonega. Other notable rarities emerge from Philadelphia, minted between 1863 and 1877. However, coins minted in 1873 are an exception, as that year saw unusually high mintages. Among these rarities, the 1848 CAL issue holds particular renown. During 1848, the Military Governor of California supplied the Mint with 230 ounces of California gold, resulting in the production of 1,389 quarter eagles featuring CAL struck just above the eagle's head. Numismatists regard this as America's inaugural commemorative coin. All 1848 CAL Quarter Eagles are both valuable and avidly sought after.

Given the multitude of distinct issues, this Type is typically collected as a comprehensive category. Many enthusiasts undertake the task of assembling sets that encompass coins from the five Mints that participated in producing this coin: Philadelphia, New Orleans, Charlotte, Dahlonega, and San Francisco.