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June: Fine Art, Jewelry & Design

Wed, Jun 3, 2026 02:00PM EDT
  2026-06-03 14:00:00 2026-06-03 14:00:00 America/New_York SebastianCharles Auctions SebastianCharles Auctions : June: Fine Art, Jewelry & Design https://bid.sebastiancharles.com/auctions/sebastiancharles-auctions/june-fine-art-jewelry-design-23374
Pre-bidding is now open for our June Fine Art & Design auction, featuring fine art, sterling silver, wrist and pocket watches, sculptures, and designer bags. Highlights include an 18K Tiffany & Co Pocket Watch, 1987 Chinese Gold Panda Proof Sets, alongside paintings from Sydney Laurence, Alfred Copestick, Adrien Sacquespee, and Felix Ziem.
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Lot 444

1838-C $2.50 Gold Liberty Head Quarter Eagle – First Year Charlotte Mint Issue

Estimate: $4,000 - $8,000
Starting Bid
$2,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$250 $25
$1,000 $50
$2,000 $100
$4,000 $250
$10,000 $500
$20,000 $1,000
$50,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
$500,000 $10,000

838-C $2.50 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle, representing the first year of gold coinage struck at the Charlotte Mint. As one of the inaugural issues from this Southern branch mint, the 1838-C Quarter Eagle holds a special place in early American numismatics.

The obverse features the Classic Head (often referred to as Liberty Head in the marketplace) design by Christian Gobrecht, depicting Liberty facing left with hair bound by a fillet inscribed “LIBERTY.” The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows, along with the denomination “2 1/2 D.” Notably, this issue bears the “C” mintmark above the date on the obverse—an identifying characteristic unique to early Charlotte gold coinage.

Specifications:

  • Denomination: $2.50 (Quarter Eagle)
  • Composition: .900 Gold, .100 Copper
  • Weight: 4 grams
  • Mintmark: “C” (above date)
  • Year: 1838

Condition:
Coin appears to be in better-than-average circulated condition with even wear consistent with its age and period of use. Major design elements remain visible, and the coin retains solid overall eye appeal. Please review all images carefully to determine your own assessment of grade, surfaces, and strike.

Additional Notes:
The 1838-C Quarter Eagle is a key early Charlotte Mint issue, avidly sought by collectors of Southern gold and pre-1840 U.S. coinage. Examples from this first year of production are especially desirable due to their historical significance and limited original mintage.

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