An 1815 quarter with a current bid of $42,500 is the headline lot of the Eric P Newman collection sale at Heritage Auctions, which closes on November 15-16.

The MS67-graded 25c is one of the finest examples of an 1815 quarter known.

The 1815 25c is one of only 89,235 minted that year

As a result of trade embargos on copper due to the war of 1812, only 89,235 quarters were minted in 1815 and all used the same die pair.

The coin features the first appearance of John Reich's capped bust design on the quarter.

It features light champagne toning around a light silver centre.

A 1796 quarter will also feature in the sale, with bidding standing at $26,000.

5,894 quarters were minted in 1796, the year that the coins were introduced, and up to 700 are thought to have survived to the present day.

The strike is nearly full and despite weakness on Liberty's forehead and the eagle, it exceeds any previously recorded sharpness on a 1796 dollar.

The edge reeding indicates that a special planchet was used in the production of this example.

Detailed analysis suggests that this coin was one of the earliest strikes from the B-2 die pair, which were the first struck at the Philadelphia Mint - indicating that it was one of the first quarters produced in the United States.

Heritage commented: "The evidence points to the Newman specimen as the finest existing 1796 quarter dollar, and it should be designated as a Specimen strike."

We have a selection of investment grade coins available.

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