1839 was the first year of coinage for the denomination at the Dahlonega Mint, the final year of quarter eagle coinage of the design type, and the second of just two years with an obverse mintmark position (the first year, 1838, saw branch mint coinage from only the Charlotte facility). In 1840, Christian Gobrecht's Liberty design replaced William Kneass' short-lived Classic Head motif of 1834-1839, and the mintmark position was moved to the reverse die.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Georgia Gold Rush of Dahlonega Mint Coinage Auction, where it realized $252,000.