Seated Liberty Quarter
1838–1891 • No Motto • With Motto • Arrows & Rays Varieties
The History of the Seated Liberty Quarter
The Seated Liberty quarter, struck from 1838 to 1891, shares its design and its extended production run with the half dollar, dime, and dollar denominations of the same era — all bearing Christian Gobrecht's seated figure of Liberty, holding a liberty pole topped with a Phrygian cap and a shield inscribed "LIBERTY." This unified "Seated Liberty" family of coinage dominated American silver circulation for over five decades, spanning the antebellum period, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, making the series a genuinely comprehensive numismatic record of one of the most consequential eras in American history.
Struck at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and — beginning in 1870 — Carson City mints, the Seated Liberty quarter documents America's westward minting expansion during the silver boom that followed the Comstock Lode discovery in Nevada. The series' Carson City issues in particular hold outsized appeal for collectors, both for their genuine scarcity and for the romantic frontier-era history associated with that short-lived, remote mint facility.
Major Design Varieties
Like its half dollar counterpart, the Seated Liberty quarter went through several major design and composition changes over its production run. The earliest issues (1838–1853) are "No Drapery" and "No Motto" types, without the small drapery fold added at Liberty's elbow in 1840 and without any national motto. In 1853, responding to rising silver bullion prices, the Mint reduced the quarter's weight and added arrows beside the date along with rays around the eagle — the short-lived "Arrows and Rays" type, struck for just one year before the rays were dropped, leaving "Arrows Only" for 1854–1855.
The arrows were removed in 1856, and the design continued as the standard "No Motto" type until 1866, when "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added above the eagle — a Civil War-era addition reflecting increased religious sentiment. A final arrows variety appeared briefly in 1873–1874, responding to weight standard adjustments under the Coinage Act of 1873. As with the half dollar series, many collectors pursue Seated Liberty quarters as a type set — one representative example of each major variety — providing a rich but achievable alternative to a full date-and-mintmark run.
No Drapery (1838–1840)
The original Gobrecht design's earliest years — before the drapery fold was added at Liberty's elbow.
No Motto (1840–1866)
The long-running standard type before "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added — the most common Seated Liberty type.
Arrows & Rays (1853)
A one-year-only type responding to rising silver prices — reduced weight, arrows at date, rays on reverse.
Arrows Only (1854–1855)
Rays removed after just one year, arrows retained — a brief transitional variety.
With Motto (1866–1891)
"IN GOD WE TRUST" added above the eagle — a Civil War-era addition to the reverse design.
Carson City Issues (1870–1878)
Frontier-mint quarters from the Comstock Lode era — genuine scarcity and outsized collector appeal.
Key Dates and Notable Rarities
The Seated Liberty quarter series is anchored by one of the most legendary rarities in all of American numismatics: the 1873-CC No Arrows quarter. Struck at the Carson City Mint before that year's weight-standard change added arrows to the design, only five examples were minted and just four are known to survive today — making it one of the great condition rarities of U.S. coinage, with any surviving example commanding well into six figures whenever one changes hands. This single date defines the aspirational ceiling of the entire series for advanced collectors.
Beyond this singular rarity, the series contains a strong roster of important key dates. The 1849-O and 1854-O "Huge O" (a doubled or oversized mintmark variety) are significant New Orleans rarities. The 1859-S and early Carson City issues (1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1872-CC) are all genuinely scarce, low-mintage coins that command strong premiums in any grade — the 1870-CC in particular, as the very first Carson City quarter ever struck, holds special significance for collectors focused on that mint's output. These Carson City dates are consistently among the most actively sought coins within the broader Seated Liberty quarter series.
Value Guide
Values shown are approximate market ranges for authentic examples in collectible condition. Silver melt value provides a floor for common dates; key dates and better grades command significant premiums above bullion value.
| Date / Type | Mint | Mintage | Good–VG | Value Range | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 No Drapery | Philadelphia | 466,000 | $60–$120 | $60–$1,500+ | eBay → |
| 1849-O | New Orleans | 16,000 | $150–$350 | $150–$3,000+ | eBay → |
| 1853 Arrows & Rays | Philadelphia | 15,210,020 | $40–$80 | $40–$800+ | eBay → |
| 1859-S KEY | San Francisco | 60,000 | $300–$700 | $300–$6,000+ | eBay → |
| 1866 With Motto (first year) | Philadelphia | 17,525 | $800–$1,500 | $800–$8,000+ | eBay → |
| 1870-CC KEY | Carson City | 8,340 | $3,000–$8,000 | $3,000–$40,000+ | eBay → |
| 1873-CC No Arrows KEY | Carson City | Only 5 struck, 4 known | N/A | $300,000 – $2,000,000+ | eBay → |
| 1891 (final year) | Philadelphia | 3,920,600 | $30–$60 | $30–$600+ | eBay → |
Grading the Seated Liberty Quarter
Grading Seated Liberty quarters follows standard Sheldon-scale conventions, with wear concentrated at Liberty's head and knee on the obverse, and the eagle's breast and wing tips on the reverse. As with the half dollar series, strike quality varies by mint and date — New Orleans and San Francisco issues can show softer strikes than Philadelphia coins, which should be factored into grading rather than mistaken for excessive wear. Carson City issues in particular are known for variable striking quality given that facility's more limited production capabilities relative to the older Eastern mints.
PCGS and NGC both grade Seated Liberty quarters, and certification is strongly recommended for any coin above $200–$300, and essentially mandatory for any Carson City date or the legendary 1873-CC No Arrows given the extraordinary values involved. Original, unmolested surfaces with natural toning are particularly prized — cleaned or dipped coins, common among 19th-century silver that has passed through many hands over 150+ years, carry meaningfully reduced value even when underlying wear is minimal.
Where to Buy Seated Liberty Quarters
eBay — Certified Seated Liberty Quarters
PCGS and NGC certified examples across all major varieties and mints. Filter by date, mint mark, and grade for the most reliable buying experience.
Shop Certified Coins →eBay — Carson City Quarters
Search specifically for 1870-CC through 1878-CC Carson City issues — the series' most historically significant and actively pursued mint mark group.
Shop Carson City Quarters →JM Bullion
Pre-1892 U.S. 90% silver quarters are widely available through bullion dealers as "junk silver" — a straightforward way to acquire common dates near melt value.
Shop JM Bullion →Kitco
Live silver spot pricing alongside pre-1965 90% silver U.S. coinage — useful for tracking melt value on common-date Seated Liberty quarters.
Shop Kitco →Money Metals Exchange
Competitive pricing on 90% silver U.S. coinage, including common-date Seated Liberty quarters sold by weight.
Shop Money Metals →SD Bullion
Transparent, spot-based pricing on pre-1892 90% silver quarters sold as junk silver by weight.
Shop SD Bullion →Silver Gold Bull
International bullion dealer carrying 90% silver U.S. coinage with competitive pricing and worldwide shipping options.
Shop Silver Gold Bull →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for Seated Liberty quarters and other U.S. denominations before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable Seated Liberty quarter?
The 1873-CC No Arrows quarter is by far the most valuable — only five were struck at the Carson City Mint before that year's weight-standard change, and just four examples are known to survive today. This makes it one of the great rarities in all of American numismatics, with any surviving example commanding well into six or seven figures. Among more attainable key dates, the 1870-CC (the first Carson City quarter) and 1859-S are the most significant.
Are Seated Liberty quarters made of silver?
Yes — Seated Liberty quarters are 90% silver and 10% copper, containing approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. This gives common-date examples real bullion value beyond their numismatic worth, and heavily worn low-grade examples of common dates are often sold as "junk silver" near melt value. Key dates and higher-grade examples carry substantial numismatic premiums above their silver content.
Why are Carson City Seated Liberty quarters so valuable?
The Carson City Mint operated from 1870 to 1893 (with interruptions) in a remote frontier location, producing coinage in much smaller quantities than the established Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco facilities. This inherently low mintage, combined with the romantic historical association with the American West and the Comstock Lode silver boom, makes Carson City coins — quarters included — highly sought by both Seated Liberty specialists and dedicated Carson City mint collectors, driving strong premiums across the entire CC-mint quarter output.
What is the difference between "No Motto" and "With Motto" Seated Liberty quarters?
No Motto quarters (1838–1866) lack any religious inscription and represent the original Gobrecht design. With Motto quarters (1866–1891) include "IN GOD WE TRUST" added above the eagle on the reverse, a change made in response to increased religious sentiment during and after the Civil War. This is one of the primary type-collecting distinctions within the series and both types are actively pursued for complete type sets.
How do I authenticate a rare Seated Liberty quarter like the 1873-CC No Arrows?
Given the extraordinary values involved, any purchase of a rare Carson City Seated Liberty quarter — and certainly the 1873-CC No Arrows — should only be made through PCGS or NGC certified examples with documented provenance, ideally purchased through major auction houses (Heritage, Stack's Bowers) or established dealers who are members of the Professional Numismatists Guild. Given that only four examples of the 1873-CC No Arrows are known to exist, each one's ownership history is well documented among specialists, making authentication and provenance verification particularly important and, fortunately, particularly reliable for this specific coin.
What is a good starting point for collecting this series?
Building a type set — one representative example of each major design variety (No Drapery, No Motto, Arrows and Rays, Arrows Only, With Motto) — is a popular and achievable starting goal. Common-date No Motto and With Motto examples from Philadelphia in circulated grades are widely available and affordable, typically $30–$80, making this an accessible entry point before pursuing the series' more challenging New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City key dates.
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A Guide Book of Liberty Seated Coins. Values & Market Data – Includes detailed retail pricing, auction records, rarity ratings, and certified population data to guide collectors and investors.
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