The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 15, April 11, 2004, Article 6

1870-S QUARTER CAUTION URGED

  Alan Luedeking writes: "Regarding the piece on the supposed
  1870-S quarter in the San Francisco mint building's cornerstone,
  I cannot but urge caution.  Nowhere in the warrant itself or in
  the other official documents reproduced in the Coin World
  article does it specifically state the date on the coins. It is clear
  that coins were purchased for inclusion in the cornerstone in
  1870 and in the denominations and amounts listed, however,
  the assertion that the quarter must be an 1870-S is nowhere
  conclusively proven. It may well be that the mint supplied an
  1869-S quarter, that being the last year they were officially
  made. The contemporary newspaper article suggesting that
  coins were "struck off" that year for the cornerstone is in itself
  not conclusive proof, since it is not an official document, nor
  does it specifically state that the dies used to strike these coins
  were dated 1870; however, I grant that the likelihood of this
  is increased by these documents. The existence of dollar coins
  dated 1870-S for which no production records have thus far
  come to light is also encouraging in suggesting that the same
  possibility may exist for the quarter. However, unless the
  authors have other incontrovertible documentary proof, I
  respectfully suggest that the truth must await the actual
  exhumation of the bronze casket and its delightful contents."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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