1898-S Barber Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS).

$24,000

Finest Known 1898-S Barber Quarter

A Virtually Pristine Ultra Gem

Beautifully Toned

This is the finest certified and also the finest known 1898-S Barber quarter, easily outdistancing its only real competitor for this distinction, the Eugene H. Gardner specimen in PCGS/CAC MS-67 that last sold at auction in 2014. Not only is the present example closer to pristine than the Gardner coin, it is also far more attractively toned. Blushes of vivid iridescent toning in salmon-pink, golden-apricot, cobalt blue and antique gold compete for dominance on both sides, the central obverse offering the most intense colors, the lower right reverse border also with hints of reddish-rose and antique olive. The strike detail is superb with razor sharp to full definition throughout the design. Every star on the obverse boasts complete centrils and the eagle’s left talon on the reverse is crisp, features that are often soft to blunt on circulation strike Barber quarters. Frosty mint luster shines forth powerfully from silky smooth surfaces that approach numismatic perfection. With equally strong technical merits and aesthetic qualities, this is an awe-inspiring Ultra Gem Mint State coin that would serve as a centerpiece in the finest type set or specialized Barber quarter collection competing for top ranking on the PCGS Set Registry.

Quarter dollar production at the San Francisco Mint amounted to 1,020,592 coins in 1898 – a limited total by the standards of the Barber series. Some or most of this mintage was shipped to the Philippines for circulation in the islands at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War that year. The limited release of this issue within the United States meant not only that the 1898-S was scarce in domestic circulation from the start, but also that very few coins were available to contemporary numismatists for potential preservation in Mint State. Virtually all of the coins sent to the Philippines were heavily circulated and eventually lost, and today the 1898-S numbers among the more elusive early San Francisco Mint Barber quarters, especially in Choice AU and Mint State grades. During preparation of our (Bowers and Merena’s) April 1997 Eliasberg Collection sale, David Lawrence wrote to Q. David Bowers and commented that the 1898-S is “truly scarce in Mint State as most, if not all, of the mintage went to the Philippines, and coins were not saved in high grades.” Lawrence went on to state that, while relatively obtainable in cleaned EF and AU grades (generally those few coins that survived to be repatriated from the Philippines), “in Mint State [the 1898-S] is very underrated.” In PCGS MS-68 the present example is a true wonder coin reminiscent of equally superb Barber coinage acquired directly from the mints by contemporary collectors such as J.M. Clapp. Obviously preserved with great care since the time of issue, this is an incomparable 1898-S quarter that will impress even the most discerning collector. Remarkable!

PCGS# 5621. NGC ID: 23YF.

PCGS Population: 1; 0 finer. There are no examples certified finer than MS-67 at NGC.

Out of stock

SKU: A0001770616 Category:

Description

Previous Prices Realized

ImageGradeDescriptionDateRealized
Coin Thumbnail551898-S Barber Quarter. AU-55 (PCGS).Mar-18$456.00
Coin Thumbnail551898-S Barber Quarter. AU-55 (NGC).Jan-14$211.50
Coin Thumbnail581898-S Barber Quarter. AU-58 (PCGS).Oct-23$720.00
Coin Thumbnail641898-S Barber Quarter. MS-64 (PCGS).Nov-17$3,120.00
Coin Thumbnail641898-S Barber Quarter. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC.Jun-17$4,582.50
Coin Thumbnail661898-S Barber Quarter. MS-66 (PCGS).Mar-20$7,200.00
Coin Thumbnail671898-S Barber Quarter. MS-67 (NGC).Mar-23$13,200.00
Coin Thumbnail671898-S Barber Quarter. MS-67 (NGC).Aug-22$12,600.00
Coin Thumbnail671898-S Barber Quarter. MS-67 (NGC).Mar-21$11,400.00
Coin Thumbnail671898-S Barber Quarter. MS-67 (NGC).Dec-20$15,000.00

** NOTE. All prices realized reflect the final hammer price plus the buyer’s premium. As errors can occur, you should contact each pricing source to determine the accuracy of this information. No item may be returned or refused based on the information provided.

Population Guide

ServiceGradePopulation In This GradePlusPopulation In Higher GradeTotal
PCGS68100227
NGC68000108
CAC68

**NOTE. Information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, and is being provided to our customers as a service. As errors can occur, you should contact each grading service to determine the accuracy of this information. No item may be returned or refused based on the information provided.

PCGS Pop Guide

Type12346810121520253035404545+505353+5555+5858+60616262+6363+6464+6565+6666+6767+6868+6970Total
Base16411013537613818192211262017991712411227
Percent0210401213253789411803330300100100

**NOTE. Information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, and is being provided to our customers as a service. As errors can occur, you should contact PCGS to determine the accuracy of this information. No item may be returned or refused based on the information provided.

NGC Pop Guide

Type12346810121520253035404545+505353+5555+5858+60616262+6363+6464+6565+6666+6767+6868+6970Total
Base2323511311348271211387671222107
Percent1212400200237161110276570111100
Star11
Total2323511311348271211387681222108

**NOTE. Information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, and is being provided to our customers as a service. As errors can occur, you should contact NGC to determine the accuracy of this information. No item may be returned or refused based on the information provided.

CAC Pop Guide

Type12346810121520253035404545+505353+5555+5858+60616262+6363+6464+6565+6666+6767+6868+6970Total
Gold0
Green0

**NOTE. Information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, and is being provided to our customers as a service. As errors can occur, you should contact CAC to determine the accuracy of this information. No item may be returned or refused based on the information provided.