1861 Type 2 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle $2.50 – NGC AU Details (Improperly Cleaned)

1861 Type 2 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle $2.50 – NGC AU Details | Improperly Cleaned

A historically significant piece of American gold coinage, this 1861 Type 2 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle has been authenticated and designated AU Details – Improperly Cleaned by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), certification number 3816995-005. The coin is genuine, authenticated, and securely encapsulated in an NGC slab — but carries a details designation due to evidence of improper cleaning at some point in its history.

What “Improperly Cleaned” Means

NGC’s “AU Details – Improperly Cleaned” designation means the coin exhibits About Uncirculated wear characteristics — meaning it saw minimal circulation and retains most of its original design sharpness — but was cleaned at some point using methods not considered acceptable by numismatic standards (such as polishing or chemical dipping). This cleaning may have altered the coin’s surface luster or created hairlines. As a result, NGC assigned a details grade rather than a numeric Mint State grade.

Important note for buyers: Details-graded coins are priced significantly below their problem-free counterparts, making them an accessible entry point into scarce or historically important issues. The coin’s authenticity is fully guaranteed by NGC.

Coin Details

• Year: 1861
• Type: Type 2 Liberty Head (Larger Head Design)
• Denomination: $2.50 Quarter Eagle
• Mint: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)
• Grade: NGC AU Details – Improperly Cleaned
• Certification #: 3816995-005
• Composition: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
• Diameter: 18mm
• Weight: 4.18g (0.1209 oz pure gold)

Historical Significance

The year 1861 is one of the most historically charged in American history — the opening year of the Civil War. Quarter Eagles struck in Philadelphia in 1861 were produced in a nation on the brink of transformation. Shortly after, Confederate forces briefly seized the New Orleans Mint, making 1861 a landmark year in U.S. numismatic history. Owning an 1861 gold coin connects you directly to that pivotal moment in American history.

The Type 2 designation refers to the slightly modified Liberty Head design introduced in 1840 and continued through 1907, distinguished from earlier design types by its refined portrait and reverse eagle.

An affordable way to own a genuine Civil War-era U.S. gold coin — authenticated by NGC and rich with American history.