TURBAN HEAD $2-1/2 DOLLARS 1795-1807
Often called Capped Bust
TURBAN HEAD $2-1/2 DOLLARS 1795-1807
(ebay sponsored links)
1795
1796 Major varieties include No Stars and 13 Stars on Obverse
1797
1798
1802 All known examples are 1802/1 over dates.
1804 Found with 13 or 14 stars on the reverse
1805
1806 All known examples are over dates of one sort or another
1807
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: Robert Scot
Diameter: 20 millimeters
Metal content:
Gold - 91.7%
Other - 8.3%
Weight: 67.5 grains (4.37 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mint mark: None (all examples of this date and type were struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mint)
Images courtesy of Superior Stamp & Coin
Turban Or Capped Head Quarter Eagle Facts/History:
Although an exact correlation of varieties and original Mint delivery records is guesswork at best, these quantities are clearly supported by the number of known specimens of each die marriage. There are six known examples of BD-1, approximately 80 to 100 examples of BD-2, and 40 to 50 examples of BD-3. Each of these current estimated populations represent about 10% of the proposed original mintage.
These first quarter eagles featured the Draped Bust obverse design in a plain field with LIBERTY above and the date below. The reverse was the Heraldic Eagle design adapted from the Great Seal. A shield covered the eagle’s breast with a row of clouds and a constellation of 16 stars above. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA follows the border, and the eagle holds an olive branch and eight (more or less) arrows in its claws.
The first quarter eagles were struck on September 21, 1796, with a delivery of just 66 pieces. It is believed that all of these pieces were the extremely rare variety now known as BD-1 (BD for Bass-Dannreuther), that a further delivery of 897 pieces dated December 8, 1796, were all examples of this BD-2 variety, and finally a delivery of 432 quarter eagles dated January 14, 1797, were all the BD-3 variety of the 1796 With Stars design.
The listed values are for the grade F12 or Fine 12. Coins that are damaged, scratched or cleaned in any way will be less then values listed in price guides. Also, the below values are just examples of what the date has sold for, and not what a dealer would pay for the same date, mint or grade.
