Seated Liberty Quarter (1838-1891)

The Seated Liberty Quarter, which was produced between 1838 and 1891, is one of the most well-known coins in the history of the United States. This district, designed by Christian Gobrecht, was an important part of American business in the 19th century. Because of its design and variants, it is an interesting collection for both investors and numismatists.

Concept and Features

The quarter shows Liberty sitting on a rock. She holds a liberty hat on a pole in her left hand and a shield with the word "LIBERTY" on it in her right hand. This design is like the other new silver designs of the period. There are thirteen stars surrounding the top border, and the date is shown underneath.

The reverse side is identical to the previous design, except that the denomination is now shown as QUAR DOL. instead of 25 C, and the eagle appears to be a little heavier, with a shorter neck and body. The back side does not have a slogan. The design has been changed multiple times over the years:

• • No Motto (1838-1865): The early issues did not have the words "In God We Trust" inscribed on them.
• • With Motto (1866-1891): After the Civil War, the phrase "In God We Trust" was inserted above the eagle.
• • Arrows and Rays: In 1853 to show that the amount of silver had been somewhat reduced, little arrows were put on both sides of the date, and rays surrounded the eagle on the back.
• • Arrows Only: In 1873 the maximum weight of the quarter dollar changed from 96 grains to 96.45 grains. This comes to 6.25 grams. Arrows were positioned to indicate the dates of the quarters created subsequently in 1873 and 1874, therefore marking the new benchmark.

Collecting and Investing

The collector has a large selection of type set options to choose from within the range. There are many common dates available, so it should be easy to find coins that are graded Good through Extremely Fine. However, it is important to keep in mind that Liberty Seated quarters from this period are generally harder to find than half dimes, dimes, or half dollars.

• • Some of the scarce dates include the New Orleans issues of 1849, 1851, and 1852, the San Francisco issues of 1859, 1860, and 1864, and the 1853 without arrows.
• • AU and uncirculated coins are a little harder to find, but they may be acquired if you have the money and are willing to wait.
• • Starting in 1858, proofs were made available to the public.

While condition is important to collectors, it is not often the most important consideration when it comes to Seated Liberties. You will find that most of the early versions of the coin are only accessible in poor condition, but they will still be sold for a premium price.