Turban Or Capped Head Quarter Eagle Facts/History:
In the year 1796 the first Quarter Eagles were minted and these first $2.50 gold coins featured a Draped Bust Liberty wearing a Liberty Cap on the obverse, with a Heraldic Eagle with Shield on the reverse. It's this Liberty Cap and how the hair in flowing around it that has gained this design the nickname "Turban Head". This series and design lasted from 1796-1807.
The first year saw the delivery of approximately 1,395 examples of the Draped bust Quarter Eagle, and in three recognized varieties, BD-1, BD-2, BD-3 (BD = Bass-Dannreuther). Obviously, from the above mintage figures, this quarter eagle is exceedingly rare. Couple that with, all the gold coin melting through out the years, losses due to circulation or burying of collections and the government seizure of gold coinage in 1933, and one can only wonder just how many still remain in existence and how many await discovery. It's factual the number is very few.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: Robert Scot
Diameter: 20 millimeters
Metal content:
Gold - 91.7%
Other - 8.3%
Weight: 67.5 grains (4.37 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mint mark: None (all examples of this date and type were struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mint)
TURBAN HEAD $2-1/2 DOLLARS 1795-1807
1795
1796 Major varieties include No Stars and 13 Stars on Obverse
1797
1798
1802 All known examples are 1802/1 over dates.
1804 Found with 13 or 14 stars on the reverse
1805
1806 All known examples are over dates of one sort or another
1807
Capped Head $2.50 or Quarter Dollar 1795-1807