1822 25/50C Proof

The 1822 25/50C proof Capped Bust Quarter ranks among the most famous engraving blunders in early American coinage. A Mint engraver, working from a partially completed reverse hub, accidentally punched the denomination "50 C." into a quarter die before correcting it to "25 C." The error was caught and the digits were re-engraved, but traces of the underlying "50" remain visible beneath the "25." This blunder appears on a small number of business strikes and on a handful of proof strikings, the latter of which are among the most pursued variety proofs of the era. The Philadelphia Mint, then the only operating United States Mint, produced these proofs only on special request, and survivors trace through landmark 19th-century collections.

Authentication of the 25/50C blunder requires examining the reverse denomination under good light and 5x or 10x magnification. The underdigit "5" peeks out from inside and below the upper loop of the "2," while traces of the underlying "0" sit beneath the "5" of "25." On the proof version, these traces remain sharp because the mirror fields and crisp strike preserve every minute feature of the die. Specifications match the Type 1 standard: 27 millimeters, 6.74 grams, 89.24 percent silver and 10.76 percent copper, reeded edge. John Dannreuther catalogs this proof as JD-2 in his "Encyclopedia of United States Proof Coinage 1722-1989." Sheldon rarity is R-8, meaning only one or two proof examples are believed to exist.

Combined Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) population reports list essentially a single graded proof, sometimes two depending on resubmissions. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers have handled the rare appearances, with each public sale drawing attention from advanced variety collectors. The combination of proof format, denomination blunder, and microscopic survivor count makes this an apex-tier acquisition. For deeper context, see the Capped Bust Quarter series history.