1896 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle Coin

1896 Liberty Head $2.50 quarter eagle gold coins are among the most widely collected pre-1933 U.S. gold coins in the market today. The United States Mint made 19,070, which is a fairly substantial number as compared to other $2.50 issues from the 1880s and 1890s, though a much smaller population of these coins survives today. This is the situation with virtually all pre-1933 U.S. coins, which were melted in large numbers throughout the 20th century, particularly after the nation abandoned the gold standard in 1933.

The value of an 1896 Liberty Head $2.50 gold quarter eagle that grades Very Fine-20 is $564 , while uncirculated specimens sell for about $500 and up. 1896 quarter eagles were made with a standard “coin gold” composition of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper, and they weigh 4.18 grams, which means they boast a total gold content of 0.1202 ounces. These classic gold coins also measure 18 millimeters in diameter, making them slightly wider than a modern U.S. dime. Though small as compared to larger-denomination gold coinage, they are often a bullion investor favorite, especially among those who enjoy pre-1933 U.S. gold coins.

1896 quarter eagle gold coins were designed by engraver Christian Gobrecht, who had served as the U.S. Mint’s chief engraver during a part of the 1840s. Gobrecht gained what many numismatists would consider his greatest recognition for designing Seated Liberty silver coinage, which was produced from the late 1830s through 1891.