Liberty Seated Quarter 1883—1891

The Liberty Seated Quarter is a series of coins that were issued by the United States Mint from 1838 to 1891. It features the Liberty Seated design, which depicts a seated figure of Liberty on the obverse (front) and various designs on the reverse (back) depending on the specific issue.

The Liberty Seated design was introduced in 1836 on the half dollar coin and later expanded to other denominations, including the quarter. The design was created by Christian Gobrecht, who was the Chief Engraver at the United States Mint at the time.

The obverse of the Liberty Seated Quarter features a seated figure of Liberty holding a pole with a liberty cap, symbolizing freedom. The reverse designs changed over the years and included various depictions such as an eagle, a wreath, and the heraldic eagle.

Throughout the series, there were different varieties and subtypes of the Liberty Seated Quarter, including variations in the size of the date, the presence or absence of drapery, and other minor design modifications.

The Liberty Seated Quarters were minted at several different U.S. Mint facilities, and some issues bear mintmarks to indicate their origin. The most common mintmarks include "O" for the New Orleans Mint, "S" for the San Francisco Mint, and "CC" for the Carson City Mint.

Over the years, there were several changes made to the design of the Liberty Seated Quarter. In 1866, the motto "In God We Trust" was added to the reverse of the coin. Additionally, in 1873, the weight of the coin was slightly reduced.

The Liberty Seated Quarter series came to an end in 1891 when it was replaced by the Barber Quarter. The Barber Quarter featured a new design by Charles E. Barber, who succeeded Gobrecht as the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.

The Liberty Seated Quarter series is highly regarded among collectors due to its historical significance and the wide variety of issues and mintmarks available. These coins often hold value not only as a means of exchange but also as collectible items, with rare dates and mintmarks commanding higher prices in the market.

Key Dates

1840-O: This is the first year of issue for the New Orleans Mint and is highly sought after by collectors. It has a low mintage and is considered a rare date.

1853-O: This issue is known for its low mintage and scarcity. The "O" mintmark indicates it was minted at the New Orleans Mint.

1856-S: The 1856-S Liberty Seated Quarter is one of the rarest issues in the series. It was minted in San Francisco and has a low mintage, making it highly desirable among collectors.

1864-S: This date is known for its rarity and historical significance. It was minted during the Civil War era and has a low mintage due to the limited resources available at the San Francisco Mint during that time.

1871-CC: The 1871-CC Liberty Seated Quarter was minted at the Carson City Mint and is highly sought after by collectors. It has a low mintage and is considered one of the key dates of the series.

1873-CC No Arrows: This variety is notable because it lacks the arrows on either side of the date, which were introduced to signify a weight reduction. The 1873-CC No Arrows quarter is quite rare and highly coveted by collectors.

1878-S: This date is known for its low mintage and scarcity. It was minted in San Francisco and is considered a key date in the series.