Seated Liberty Quarter (1838-1891)

Mint Location: Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City
Designer: Hermon A. MacNeil
Composition: 90 silver; 10% copper
Weight: 1837 6.68g, 1853 6.22g, 1873 6.25g
Edge Type: Reeded

The basic design is a figure of Liberty is clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap. Liberty’s right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word “Liberty”. The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty.

The reverse featured a central eagle about to take flight, with a striped shield upon its breast. The eagle clutched an olive branch of peace in its right talons and a group of arrows in its left talons. Above the eagle around the rim were the words “United States of America” and below the eagle around the rim lay the coin denomination. Beginning in 1866, the coins featured a ribbon with the motto “In God We Trust” above the eagle.

Slight modifications to the coin resulted in 6 Types. Type 1, No Drapery (1838-1840), Type 2, No Motto (1840-1865), Type 3, Arrows & Rays (1853), Type 4, No Motto, Arrows at Date (1854-1855), Type 5, With Motto (1866-1891), Type 6, With Motto, Arrows at Date (1873-1874)

Coin Values: For the type collector this series is challenging to find them all. The most sought after coins of this design are the New Orleans issues of 1849, 1851 and 1852, and the San Francisco issues of 1859, 1860 and 1864. All Types are found in Fine to AU grades commonly. A slabbed 1843-O MS63 Type 2 sold for $5500, while a 1873-S MS64 Type 6 $5750.

1838 25c Seated Liberty Type 1