1850-D $2.50 MS61 认证号44287225, PCGS号7757

Charles Morgan

Dahlonega Mint production of Liberty Head Quarter Eagles peaked in 1843 but maintained mintages consistently in the 11,000 to 19,000 range for the remainder of the 1840s. The 1850-D (mintage 12,148) and 1851-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagles (mintage 11,264) would be the final two issues from the Branch Mint with a mintage greater than 4,100. Much of the gold coined during these two years was brought to Dahlonega by miners and merchants returning from the California gold fields, with California gold deposits exceeding locally sourced gold by 1851.

The extreme distance between California and the North Georgia Mint, coupled with a lack of infrastructure, meant that regional demand and proximity impacted the amount of gold deposits the Dahlonega Mint received (Philadelphia received the lion’s share). The establishment of the San Francisco Mint in 1854 effectively cut off the remaining faucet of western gold. By 1854, even local gold mines were in decline, and the Dahlonega and Charlotte Mints limped along until they were ultimately shuttered as a result of Southern secession in 1861.

Surprisingly, the 1851-D is considerably more scarce than the 1850-D, leaving the 1850-D as the most "common" D-mint $2.50 gold piece from that mint’s final decade of quarter eagle production. Still, the 1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle saw heavy circulation and the number of Mint State survivors extant are few. As if December 2025, PCGS counts ten examples between MS60 and MS62, with none finer. Most certified examples fall in the Extra Fine (XF) to About Uncirculated (AU) range.

How Many Varieties of the 1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Were Struck?

The Philadelphia Mint prepared three obverse dies for the 1850-D issue, but only one die marriage is known. This die can marriage can be easily distinguished.

On the obverse, the "1" in the date is joined to the bust, and the base of the numeral is not close to the denticles. The "0" is equally spaced between the bust and the denticles.

The reverse die is the same one used for the 1847-D Variety 9-M. However, beginning in 1850, a series of shallow die scratches appeared between the vertical stripes in the shield. These scratches run in an upward direction from left to right and can be seen on all Quarter Eagles struck at the Dahlonega Mint from 1850 through 1859.

Doug Winter offers the following personal observations about the date:

The finest known example of this date, a PCGS MS62, has an interesting provenance. The coin was in the personal collection of Jack Hancock, a dear friend of mine and a true connoisseur of fine, original Dahlonega gold coinage. He acquired this coin from George Elliot, another Georgia connoisseur, now deceased, who is remembered both as a great collector and the father of the famed NASCAR driver Bill Elliott. After Jack's passing, this 1850-D was passed on to his two sons, and hopefully, it will remain a cherished remembrance of a truly good person in the rare coin business.

1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle: Physical Characteristics

(per Doug Winter)

The 1850-D Quarter Eagle is usually not very well struck. The typical example has an obverse that is more sharply impressed than the reverse. On the obverse, weakness is common at the center, specifically on the brow of Liberty, the curls near the eye, the curls on the neck, and sometimes the bun. Some stars are sharp while others (usually those at the top) are flat at the centers. The border is weakly struck, with most denticles either very weak or indistinct. The reverse center is weak on the eagle’s right leg, the arrow feathers, and the top portion of the shield. The reverse denticles are weak at the top and bottom and may be only partially visible at the sides.

Surfaces and Luster

Surfaces: This date is typically found with average quality surfaces. The 1850-D does not exhibit obtrusive marks as frequently as the 1849-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, though many show signs of having been cleaned.

Luster: The quality of luster is below average. It is uncommon for an example to show luster, and those that do have a grainy, subdued texture.

Coloration and Eye Appeal

Coloration: Original, uncleaned pieces have been seen with coloration ranging from orange-gold to deep green-gold. Not more than a handful retain totally original color.

Eye Appeal: There are very few legitimately attractive examples of this date available to collectors. An 1850-D $2.50 gold coin that is well-struck, lustrous, and minimally abraded trades for a substantial premium over a typical piece.

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