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The quarter eagle, face value of $2.50, occupies an unusual place in American currency, says author Q. David Bowers. Unlike larger gold coins, it was too small to be commonly used in export and international trade. It also never became popular in day-to-day commerce (though, like the smaller gold dollar, it was frequently given as a Christmas gift). Despite this, Bowers says, the quarter eagle was minted almost continuously for more than 130 years, starting in 1796, with six different design...