Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

SEATED LIBERTY QUARTER

1838–1891
NO DRAPERY • DRAPERY • ARROWS/RAYS • MOTTO • CARSON CITY KEYS
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Date
P3Common / Condition Pull
CCCarson City
NDNo Drapery
ARRArrows/Rays
MOTTOIN GOD WE TRUST
Ag90% silver
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1P1 MONEY COINS
Date / IssuePri.What To Check
1842-O Small DateP1Major New Orleans variety
1853-O No Arrows/RaysP1Rarity; authenticate
1866 No MottoP1Transition rarity
1870-CCP1First Carson City quarter and key
1871-CCP1Major CC key
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Famous rarity
1878-SP1Major San Francisco rarity

1842-O Small Date

1842-O Small Date placeholder

Major New Orleans variety

1853-O No Arrows/Rays

1853-O No Arrows/Rays placeholder

Rarity; authenticate

1866 No Motto

1866 No Motto placeholder

Transition rarity

1870-CC

1870-CC placeholder

First Carson City quarter and key

2TYPE GUIDE
Type / EraYearsDiagnostic
No Drapery1838–1840No drapery at Liberty’s elbow
With Drapery1840–1891Drapery added
Arrows/Rays1853Weight-change markers
Arrows No Rays1854–1855, 1873–1874Arrows at date
With Motto1866–1891IN GOD WE TRUST on reverse
SEATED LIBERTY QUARTER obverse placeholderOBVERSE
SEATED LIBERTY QUARTER reverse placeholderREVERSE
Image note: Internet-hosted image placeholders are included. Replace with licensed/local images in production.
3KEY DATE CHART
Date / GroupPri.Notes
1842-O Small DateP1Variety key
1853-O No Arrows/RaysP1Rarity
1870-CCP1CC key
1871-CCP1CC key
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Major rarity
1878-SP1Major rarity
Sorting tip: Identify type first, then check date, mintmark/edge, surface quality, and variety diagnostics.
4STRIKE & CONDITION DIAGNOSTICS
FeaturePull If / Check
TypeNo Drapery/With Drapery/Arrows/Motto
MintmarkO, S, or CC on reverse
DateCheck arrows and small/large date varieties
StrikeLiberty head, shield, eagle detail
SurfacesOriginal silver
Condition rule: Original surfaces and problem-free coins usually beat cleaned or damaged examples, even on better dates.
5VARIETIES & ERROR COINS
Variety / ErrorPri.What To Look For
1842-O Small DateP1Date-style variety
1853-O No Arrows/RaysP1Weight-change rarity
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Major rarity
Arrows datesP21853–55 and 1873–74
No Motto / With MottoP2Reverse type change
variety placeholderVARIETY CHECK
reverse diagnostic placeholderREVERSE / EDGE
6QUICK SORT CHECKLIST

CHECK FIRST

  1. 1842-O Small Date
  2. 1853-O No Arrows/Rays
  3. 1866 No Motto
  4. 1870-CC
  5. 1871-CC
  6. 1873-CC No Arrows
  7. 1878-S
  8. Arrows dates
  9. CC mintmarks
  10. Authenticate keys
Fast workflow: type → date → mintmark/edge → weight/specs → variety → condition → authenticate P1 finds.
Authenticate: P1 rarities, famous varieties, proofs, and expensive high-grade pieces before sale.
SORT SMART. VERIFY MAJOR FINDS. NEVER CLEAN COLLECTIBLE COINS.
Primary source: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/twenty-cents-quarters/liberty-seated-quarter-1838-1891/708
Notice Updated