The 1834 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle “with motto” (Buy on eBay) represented the final “old tenor” issue struck with the original gold content specifications. Under the Mint Act of June 28, 1834, the gold content for the denomination was significantly reduced, with the change indicated by a new obverse design and the removal of the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse.
The 1834 quarter eagles struck with the old specifications had a mintage of 4,000 pieces, which was around the typical level for the time period. However, melting took a heavier toll due to the specification change and an estimated 20 pieces are still believed to exist in across all grades. This issue is seldom offered at auction and represents one of the most difficult coins to acquire for the entire denomination.
