United States: 1926 gold Sesquicentennial commemorative quarter eagle ($2.50)

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by lordmarcovan, Feb 24, 2026 at 6:21 AM.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    United States: 1926 gold Sesquicentennial commemorative quarter eagle ($2.50)

    PCGS MS64. Cert. #32869546.

    Numista-37693, Krause-Mishler-161.

    Mintage: 200,226 (net 46,019 survivors after 154,207 were later melted).

    Ex-Jeremy Maurer (aka "lermish"), on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum, Collectors Universe, 22 November 2022. Purchased in the slab.

    This commemorative was struck for the Sesquicentennial of American independence in 1926. Isn't "sesquicentennial" a fun word? It means the 150th anniversary of something. As of this typing (February 2026), we are in the semiquincentennial year - the 250th anniversary - of American independence. Another fun word. (Autocorrect did not recognize the word "semiquincentennial" and fought me when I typed it.)

    The Sesquicentennial gold quarter-eagle was designed by the Mint's Chief Engraver, John R. Sinnock, who later designed the Roosevelt dime. The obverse design portrays an Art Deco-styled Lady Liberty. She is standing atop the globe, holding a scroll (the Declaration of Independence) in one hand, and a lit torch in the other. The reverse features Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which would also be featured on the reverse of the Bicentennial half dollar 50 years later.

    For some reason, the PCGS photographer swapped the position of the obverse and reverse pictures in the TrueView image used on the cert page.

    01-frame.png
    02-TrueView.png
    06-obv.png
    07-rev.png
    08-slab.png
    09-GIF-obv-sm.gif 10-GIF-rev-sm.gif
    072500
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2026 at 7:43 AM
    lordmarcovan, Feb 24, 2026 at 6:21 AM
    #1 + Quote Reply
    dwhiz, Dafydd, johnmilton and 10 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Clawcoins

    Clawcoins Damaging Coins Daily

    I love that coin. I have one myself (not slabbed).
    Didn't they suffer from weak strikes ?
     
    Clawcoins, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:39 AM
    #2 + Quote Reply
    GoldFinger1969 and lordmarcovan like this.
  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Dunno. It’s hard for me to judge what’s soft strike and what’s just low relief. I suspect a lot of the latter. Perhaps coincidentally or not, the Sesqui half dollars also had a really low relief.
     
    lordmarcovan, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:59 AM
    #3 + Quote Reply
    GoldFinger1969 and Inspector43 like this.
  5. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Great looking coin, I have two but terrible pics and definitely not top shelf like yours! :smuggrin: Also one is a pendant! thumbsup.gif

    112650917a.jpg 112650917c.jpg 112650917f.jpg 11261926a.jpg 11261926b.jpg
     
    fretboard, Feb 24, 2026 at 12:21 PM
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Mr.Q, Heavymetal and GoldFinger1969 like this.
  6. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Really nice example,Lord M. Most of the 64s I have seen have a ding somewhere on Liberty herself which turns me off. I've always liked the reverse with the subtle rays emanating from Independence Hall.
     
    ksparrow, Feb 24, 2026 at 12:37 PM
    #5 + Quote Reply
  7. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    Very nice indeed my Lord, congrats.
     
    Mr.Q, Feb 24, 2026 at 2:04 PM
    #6 + Quote Reply
  8. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    They were all weak for one reason or another. For some reason, the people who were marketing them wanted the half dollar and the quarter eagle in low relief. It ruined the half dollar, and made the quarter eagle less attractive than it might have.

    Sesqui Half Dol All.jpg

    That quarter eagle you have, @lordmarcovan, is one the best I have seen in any grade. Some dealers don't like this coin at all. I remember Ed Leventhal, who was one of the principles at JJ Teaparty when it was housed in an on-street Boston store, making the sign of the cross when I mentioned it.

    Here's mine. I picked it out from about 50 pieces one dealer had in stock almost 20 years ago. They sold for more money back then. I am financially buried now, 19 years later. It's graded MS-64. Maybe the market will perk up during the Semiquincentennial.

    Sesqui $2.50.JPG
     
    johnmilton, Feb 24, 2026 at 2:09 PM
    #7 + Quote Reply
    Clawcoins and Mr.Q like this.
  9. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

    @lordmarcovan
    My favorite coin, and of course I have one. 1926 Sesq PCGS MS62 1a-horz.jpg
     
    dwhiz, Feb 24, 2026 at 4:27 PM
    #8 + Quote Reply
  10. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Yeah I really like the reverse on these, I have no idea how it was done but the sunrays is definitely a nice touch! thumbsup.gif
     
    fretboard, Feb 24, 2026 at 5:08 PM
    #9 + Quote Reply
    johnmilton likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page