How to Identify the Capped Bust Quarter Eagle
A $2.50 gold coin struck in 1808 and again from 1821-1834, showing Liberty in a soft draped cap, with the unique 1808 date prized as an early key rarity.
Read the full Capped Bust Quarter Eagle encyclopedia entry →
What It Is
The Capped Bust Quarter Eagle covers the $2.50 gold pieces struck in 1808 (a single-year design by John Reich) and the related Capped Head Left coins struck again from 1821 through 1834 after production had lapsed. Both share the same basic capped, left-facing Liberty portrait style.
Obverse Design
Liberty faces left wearing a soft, draped cap with LIBERTY on the headband, curls of hair showing beneath. Stars surround the portrait and the date is below.
Reverse Design
An eagle holds a shield on its breast with arrows and an olive branch in its talons, encircled by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. No numeral denomination is present on the coin.
Size, Weight, Metal & Edge
The 1808 issue is roughly 20mm in diameter; the revived 1821-1827 coins measure about 18.5mm, and the 1829-1834 coins are slightly smaller still. Weight is a consistent 4.37 grams at .9167 fine gold throughout the type's run. The edge is reeded.
Mint Marks
None. All examples were struck at the Philadelphia Mint; branch-mint quarter eagles did not begin until 1838.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The 1808 issue is a famous one-year type, larger and bolder than any other date in this series, and is a major key date. The 1821-1834 Capped Head Left coins are smaller, with the 1829-1834 dates showing a more compact border of denticles after a design refinement. Compare against the later Classic Head Quarter Eagle (1834-1839), which drops the cap entirely in favor of a simple hair ribbon — the presence of a full draped cap covering the top and back of Liberty's head is the key giveaway for this type.
Judging Condition at a Glance
Look for wear on the cap's high points and the curls in front of the ear, and on the reverse at the eagle's wing and leg feathers. Striking quality varies noticeably across this run, so soft detail at the stars is not always wear.
Authenticity Red Flags
The 1808 date is a well-known key date and a frequent target for alteration from more common 1820s dates. Confirm the coin's diameter matches the 1808 standard of roughly 20mm rather than the smaller 1821-1834 diameter, and examine the date digits closely for signs of re-engraving or tooling.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the 1808 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle special?
It is the only year this particular Reich design was used for the quarter eagle denomination, making it a scarce and sought-after key date.
Are the 1821-1834 quarter eagles the same design as 1808?
They are closely related Capped Head Left designs but slightly smaller in diameter, with a design refinement introduced starting in 1829.
How can I tell this type from a Classic Head Quarter Eagle?
Look at Liberty's headgear. This type shows a full draped cap covering the head; the Classic Head shows only a simple hair ribbon with no cap.
Does the coin have a mintmark?
No. All examples were struck at Philadelphia, since branch-mint quarter eagle production didn't begin until 1838.