Seated Liberty Quarters
(1838 - 1891)
The Seated Liberty Quarter was introduced in 1838, replacing the Capped Bust design and beginning one of the longest-running quarter series of the 19th century. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the obverse depicts Liberty seated on a rock holding a shield and pole, while the reverse features an eagle with shield and outstretched wings.
Beginning with this series, the composition was standardized at 90% silver and 10% copper, a format that remained consistent throughout its production. Over time, several design modifications created collectible subtypes, including the addition of drapery at Liberty’s elbow (1840), arrows at the date in 1853–1855 and again in 1873 to indicate weight changes, and the “With Motto” reverse introduced in 1866 adding “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Minted at multiple facilities—including Carson City in the later years—Seated Liberty Quarters offer a wide range of dates, mintmarks, and varieties. Their long production span and numerous design changes make them a historically rich and challenging 19th-century silver series.
Check out dates & mintages for Seated Liberty Quarters, below.Business Strikes
Type 1, No Drapery
1838 No Drapery | 466,000
1839 No Drapery | 491,146
1840 No Drapery | 188,127
1840-O No Drapery | 382,200
Type 2, No Motto
1840 Drapery | 188,127
1840-O Drapery | 43,000
1841 | 120,000
1841-O | 452,000
1842 | 88,000
1842-O | 769,000
1843 | 645,600
1843-O | 968,000
1844 | 421,200
1844-O | 740,000
1845 | 922,000
1846 | 510,000
1847 | 734,000
1847-O | 368,000
1848 | 146,000
1849 | 340,000
1850-O | 412,000
1850 | 190,800
1851 | 160,000
1851-O | 88,000
1852 | 177,060
1852-O | 96,000
1853 | 44,200
Type 3, Arrows & Rays
1853 Arrows and Rays | 15,210,020
1853-O Arrows and Rays | 1,332,000
Type 4, No Motto, Arrows at Date
1854 Arrows | 12,380,000
1854-O Arrows | 1,484,000
1855 Arrows | 2,857,000
1855-O Arrows | 176,000
1855-S Arrows | 396,400
Type 2, No Motto
1856 | 7,264,000
1856-O | 968,000
1856-S | 286,000
1857 | 9,644,000
1857-O | 1,180,000
1857-S | 82,000
1858 | 7,368,000
1858-O | 520,000
1858-S | 121,000
1859 | 1,343,200
1859-O | 260,000
1859-S | 80,000
1860 | 804,400
1860-O | 388,000
1860-S | 56,000
1861 | 4,853,600
1861-S | 96,000
1862 | 932,000
1862-S | 67,000
1863 | 191,600
1864 | 93,600
1864-S | 20,000
1865 | 58,800
1865-S | 41,000
Type 5, With Motto
1866 | 16,800
1866-S | 28,000
1867 | 20,000
1867-S | 48,000
1868 | 29,400
1868-S | 96,000
1869 | 16,000
1869-S | 76,000
1870 | 86,400
1870-CC | 8,340
1871 | 118,200
1871-S | 30,900
1871-CC | 10,890
1872 | 182,000
1872-S | 83,000
1872-CC | 22,850
1873 Close 3 | 40,000
1873 Open 3 | 172,000
1873-CC | 4,000
Type 6, With Motto, Arrows at Date
1873 Arrows | 1,271,160
1873-S Arrows | 156,000
1873-CC Arrows | 12,462
1874 Arrows | 471,200
1874-S Arrows | 392,000
Type 5, With Motto
1875 | 4,292,800
1875-S | 680,000
1875-CC | 140,000
1876 | 17,816,000
1876-S | 8,596,000
1876-CC | 4,944,000
1877 | 10,911,200
1877-S | 8,996,000
1877-CC | 4,192,000
1878 | 2,260,000
1878-S | 140,000
1878-CC | 996,000
1879 | 13,600
1880 | 13,600
1881 | 12,000
1882 | 15,200
1883 | 14,400
1884 | 8,000
1885 | 13,600
1886 | 5,000
1887 | 10,000
1888 | 10,001
1888-S | 1,216,000
1889 | 12,000
1890 | 80,000
1891 | 3,920,000
1891-O | 68,000
1891-S | 2,216,000
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