1855 Seated Liberty Quarter

About This Coin

The 1855 Seated Liberty Quarter is a United States quarter from the Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891 series. The obverse features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian liberty cap in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Designed by Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 6.2 grams, 24.3 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Produced at the New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mints. The Seated Liberty Quarter ran from 1838 to 1891 with multiple subtypes defined by obverse modifications: No Motto (1838-1865), Arrows and Rays (1853), Arrows only (1854-1855), Motto added (1866-1891), and Arrows again (1873-1874). Each change reflected Congressional adjustments to silver weight standards. Carson City issues (1870-CC through 1891-CC) command strong premiums. The 1873-CC "No Arrows" is a great rarity.