1840-1853, 1856-1866, No Motto Type

Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issued Date: 1838-1865
Composition: 0.900 parts silver, 0.100-part copper
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Weight: 103.125 grains 1838 to 1853 no arrows; 96 grains later
Edge: Reeded
Total Business strike mintage: 46,685,313
Total Proof strike mintage: fewer than 5,500

Gobrecht's Liberty Seated design made its appearance in the quarter dollar denomination in 1838. Matching other new silver designs of the time, the quarter dollar depicts Miss Liberty seated on a rock, her left hand holding a liberty cap on a pole and her right holding a shield inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars are at the border, and the date is below. The reverse is somewhat similar to the preceding except the denomination is expressed differently. An eagle is perched on an olive branch and holds three arrows. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above and the denomination QUAR. DOL. is below. There is no motto on the reverse.

This style was produced from 1838 to early 1853 and again from 1856 through 1865. Early issues lack drapery at Miss Liberty's elbow. From 1853 through 1855 special varieties with arrows at date were made and are different types. The collector has a wide variety of type set possibilities within the range. Although there are a number of scarce and rare dates, there are sufficient common issues that there should be no trouble in obtaining coins graded from Good through Extremely Fine, although it is important to note that Liberty Seated quarters of this era are in general scarcer than half dimes, dimes, or half dollars. AU pieces are scarce, and Uncirculated coins are scarcer yet. Superb Uncirculated coins are rare in all instances. Proofs were distributed to the public beginning in 1858.