This is a fascinating variety, boldly displaying one of the most awkward die errors on any United States coin. The initial punch of the 50, appropriate for a half dollar die but not one for a quarter, remains easily visible. That this die was put into service offers a clue to just how difficult sinking a die was for the first United States Mint. It also serves as probable evidence of the order of die making operations: first, the central design punch was placed; second, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA was placed, one punch at a time, leaving the cutting of the denomination as the final step. This variety is by far the rarer and more famous of the two die marriages of this year, sought after for its distinctiveness by a much larger contingent than just those who specialize in early quarter die varieties.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part I Auction, where it realized $223,250.