Errors, Varieties & More: 1842 Subvarieties
April 15, 2026
The 1830s and early 1840s was a period of improvement, technological advancement, and creative experimentation at the United States Mint. The Coinage Act of 1834 raised the silver-to-gold weight ratio from its 1792 level of 15:1 to 16:1 and lowered the gold content in the quarter eagle ($2.50), half eagle ($5.00), and eagle ($10.00) to discourage the export and melting of them. In 1836, the steam coin press was installed in the U.S. Mint, dramatically improving the number of coins capable of being struck over what screw presses could produce. And, by 1840, the design of nearly every denomination had either been modified or almost completely redesigned.
From PCGS