Seated Liberty Quarters — Key Dates, Design Types & Collector Guide
Introduction to the Seated Liberty Quarter
The Seated Liberty Quarter was produced from 1838 through 1891, a 54-year run that makes it one of the longest-lived quarter designs in American history. Christian Gobrecht's design placed Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield inscribed "LIBERTY" and a pole topped with the Phrygian cap — the same classical imagery used across the Seated Liberty denomination family of dimes, half dimes, half dollars, and dollars. The reverse displayed the American eagle in its standard heraldic posture, clutching arrows and an olive branch. The quarter's twenty-five cent denomination placed it at a sweet spot in commerce — large enough for meaningful transactions, small enough for everyday use.
The series was struck at Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City across its 54-year production run. Each mint contributed a distinct character — Philadelphia issues generally show the sharpest strikes, San Francisco coins heavy circulation wear, and Carson City dates consistently low mintages that make them the most challenging to acquire. The series covers the Mexican-American War, westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Gilded Age, giving each coin historical context that resonates with collectors beyond the numismatic details alone.
Design Types and Major Varieties
Like the other Seated Liberty denominations, the quarter series breaks into several distinct collecting types based on design modifications. The original 1838 design had no motto and no stars on the obverse — a one-year type sometimes called the "No Drapery" issue that is extremely rare. Stars were added in 1838 and drapery at Liberty's elbow appeared on most but not all early examples. The No Motto type (1838–1865) is the standard early Seated Liberty quarter. In 1853 arrows were added beside the date and rays appeared on the reverse to signal a weight reduction — a one-year combination. Arrows remained through 1855 without rays, then both were removed.
In 1866 "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to the reverse on a ribbon above the eagle, creating the With Motto type (1866–1891). In 1873–1874 arrows reappeared beside the date for another weight adjustment, creating a final arrows variety within the With Motto era. A complete Seated Liberty Quarter type set requires No Motto Without Arrows, Arrows Without Rays (1854–1855), No Motto Without Arrows (resumed), With Motto Without Arrows, and With Motto With Arrows — plus the Arrows and Rays one-year type of 1853. For the series in full, the FRC Coin Price Guide provides certified values by date and mint.
Key Dates and Notable Issues
Major Rarities
1873-CC No Arrows
One of the great rarities in all of American coinage — only 4 examples are confirmed to exist. When arrows were added mid-year for the 1873 weight change, the earlier No Arrows Carson City dies were retired after extremely few coins were struck. Value: $500,000+
1838 No Drapery (Original Type)
The original Seated Liberty Quarter design without drapery at Liberty's elbow — struck only in 1838 before the design was modified. An extremely rare one-year type that commands strong premiums in any grade. Value: $3,000–$100,000+
1853 Arrows & Rays (One-Year Type)
The unique combination of arrows beside the date and rays on the reverse was used only in 1853 to mark the weight reduction. Both Philadelphia and New Orleans issues exist — the O-mint is more common. A required one-year type for any complete set. Value: $50–$30,000+
Carson City Key Dates
1871-CC & 1872-CC
The first two Carson City quarters — 10,890 and 22,850 struck respectively. Both are major rarities in the series with most survivors in heavily circulated grades. Any example in Fine or better is a significant find for specialists. Values: $500–$50,000+
1874-CC With Arrows
Just 392,000 struck at Carson City with the arrows variety marking the 1873–1874 weight adjustment. The CC arrows dates are consistently among the most challenging in the series to locate in problem-free grades. Value: $200–$20,000+
1870-CC & 1875-CC
The 1870-CC (8,340 mintage) is the rarest collectible Carson City quarter outside the 1873-CC No Arrows. The 1875-CC (140,000 mintage) is a scarce mid-series CC date that condition-ranks well above its mintage suggests. Values: $1,000–$75,000+
New Orleans and San Francisco Keys
1842-O Small Date
A dramatic and important variety — the 1842-O Small Date had just 769,000 struck but the small date punch creates a significantly rarer coin within that mintage. A required variety for specialists building complete die variety sets. Value: $500–$30,000+
1852-O Seated Liberty
Just 96,000 struck at New Orleans — the lowest mintage of any regular-issue Seated Liberty Quarter struck at that facility. Scarce in all grades and essentially unavailable in Mint State. A genuine key date. Value: $300–$25,000+
Proof Seated Liberty Quarters
Annual proof quarters were struck at Philadelphia throughout the series in small quantities. Pre-1858 proofs are extremely rare with surviving populations in the dozens. Deep Cameo specimens are exceptional and highly prized. Values: $300–$20,000+
Varieties, Circulation History, and Collecting Strategy
The Seated Liberty Quarter series rewards patient, research-oriented collectors. The wide range of dates, mints, and varieties — from the dramatic one-year Arrows and Rays type of 1853 to the different die varieties catalogued in specialist references — gives depth to a 54-year series that could otherwise seem straightforward. The Carson City dates, beginning in 1870, are uniformly challenging and represent some of the most desirable coins in the series for advanced collectors. Most Carson City quarters circulated heavily through frontier commerce and show the wear to prove it, making well-preserved examples genuinely scarce.
For new collectors, common Philadelphia dates from the 1870s and 1880s in circulated grades provide an affordable entry — the 1876, 1877, and 1880 in Very Fine condition typically cost $30–$60 and give a genuine 19th-century silver quarter with real historical depth. A two-coin No Motto / With Motto type set is achievable for under $150 using common dates. For the specialized arrows type coins the 1853 Arrows and Rays is needed — New Orleans examples are easier to find than Philadelphia in any grade above Very Fine. For deeper engagement see our related guides on Standing Liberty Quarters, Washington Quarters, and Quarters overview.
Find Seated Liberty Quarters for Your Collection
From common Philadelphia dates to Carson City rarities and proof issues, certified Seated Liberty Quarters are available on eBay with buyer protection. Browse reference books on Amazon before you buy.
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Where to Find Seated Liberty Quarters
eBay
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Shop Money Metals →Amazon
Find Seated Liberty Quarter reference books, Dansco and Whitman albums, and storage supplies to build and protect your 19th-century silver quarter collection.
Shop Amazon →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for Seated Liberty Quarters by date, mint mark, and design type before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major design types of the Seated Liberty Quarter?
The Seated Liberty Quarter series has six recognized collecting types. The original No Drapery type (1838) is extremely rare — a one-year design before drapery was added at Liberty's elbow. The standard No Motto type (1838–1853 and 1856–1865) is the most common early type. The Arrows and Rays type (1853 only) marked a weight reduction with both elements present — a one-year combination. The Arrows Without Rays type (1854–1855) kept the arrows but dropped the rays. The With Motto type (1866–1873 and 1875–1891) added "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the reverse. Finally the With Motto With Arrows type (1873–1874) marked another weight adjustment. A complete type set requires one example of each.
Why is the 1873-CC No Arrows Seated Liberty Quarter so rare?
The 1873-CC No Arrows is one of the rarest regular-issue U.S. coins of any denomination — only 4 examples are confirmed to exist. When Congress authorized a slight weight increase for silver coins in 1873, the Mint was directed to add arrows beside the date on all new production to signal the change. The Carson City Mint had already struck a small number of quarters without arrows before the new dies arrived. Rather than release these non-conforming coins, they were almost entirely melted — leaving only 4 survivors. Each is certified and accounted for in major collections. The coin has sold at auction for more than $500,000.
What do the arrows beside the date mean on Seated Liberty Quarters?
Arrows placed beside the date served as a public signal that the coin's weight had changed. On Seated Liberty Quarters this happened twice. In 1853 arrows (with rays on the reverse) indicated a reduction in silver content from 103.125 grains to 96 grains, caused by rising silver prices. In 1873–1874 arrows appeared again to signal a slight increase to 96.45 grains, bringing U.S. coinage into alignment with international metric standards. Both arrow periods created distinct collecting types — the 1853 Arrows and Rays is particularly popular as a dramatic one-year type. After each arrow period the design reverted to the standard no-arrows appearance.
Which Seated Liberty Quarter mint marks are the rarest?
Carson City (CC) issues are the rarest across comparable dates, with the 1870-CC (8,340 mintage) and the legendary 1873-CC No Arrows at the extreme end of scarcity. New Orleans (O) issues vary widely — some dates had healthy mintages, others like the 1852-O (96,000 struck) are genuine key dates. San Francisco (S) coins tend to be well-made but heavily circulated. Philadelphia issues (no mint mark) provide the most accessible dates for most years and are the natural starting point for type set or date set collectors working their way toward the more challenging branch mint issues.
How does the Seated Liberty Quarter compare to the Seated Liberty dime and half dollar?
All three Seated Liberty denominations share the same obverse design by Christian Gobrecht and ran concurrently for much of the 19th century, creating parallel collecting structures with similar type breakdowns and similar key date challenges from the Carson City Mint. The quarter series (1838–1891) is slightly shorter than the half dollar (1839–1891) and the dime (1837–1891). Key date prices are somewhat lower for the quarter than for the corresponding half dollar or dollar — meaning collectors with limited budgets can often approach the same historical period more affordably through the quarter series. All three share the No Motto / With Motto division at 1866 and the Arrows variety periods of 1853–1855 and 1873–1874.
What is a good entry point for collecting Seated Liberty Quarters?
Common Philadelphia dates from the 1870s and 1880s in Fine to Very Fine condition are the most accessible starting point — coins like the 1876, 1877, 1880, or 1883 in circulated grades typically cost $30–$60 and provide a genuine 19th-century silver quarter with solid historical context. A No Motto / With Motto two-coin type set is achievable for under $150 using common dates. Building toward the 1853 Arrows and Rays one-year type adds an excellent third piece. For any Carson City dates or specialized varieties, PCGS or NGC certification is strongly recommended — altered mint marks and cleaned coins are well documented throughout the series.
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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