Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1866-1873, 1875-1891
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Weight: 6.22 grams (95.98 grains, 1866 to 1873), 6.25 grams (96.45 grains, 1875-1891)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 72,680,181
Proof Mintage: 20,923

Liberty Seated Quarter (1866–1891) – With Motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" | Classic 19th-Century U.S. Silver Type

Introduced in 1866, the Liberty Seated Quarter with motto marked a historic update to American silver coinage. For the first time, the reverse of the quarter featured the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST", inscribed above the eagle. This patriotic addition aligned the design with similar updates made to the Seated Liberty half dollar and silver dollar that same year. The Liberty Seated quarter with motto remained in production through 1891, serving as the final evolution of Christian Gobrecht’s iconic design.

Struck at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Carson City Mints—with a single issue from New Orleans in 1891 (1891-O)—this long-running series includes both widely available circulation strikes and several major rarities. Among them, the legendary 1873-CC No Arrows quarter stands as one of the most elusive U.S. silver coins, with only two known examples in existence.

Design & Type Characteristics

The obverse features Miss Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield and liberty cap. The reverse displays an eagle with a shield on its chest, clutching arrows and an olive branch, now flanked above by IN GOD WE TRUST. In 1873 and 1874, arrows at the date were reintroduced to indicate a slight increase in weight, marking those as distinct subtype issues popular among type collectors.

Collectibility & Availability

• Common dates in circulated grades from Good to Very Fine are accessible for type collectors.

• Extremely Fine and AU coins are increasingly scarce.

• Mint State examples—particularly those from Carson City, San Francisco, and New Orleans—are rare and highly sought after.

• The 1891-O is the only New Orleans Mint quarter of this subtype and is collectible in all grades.

• Rarities abound, with key dates including the 1870–1873 Carson City issues, the 1873-CC No Arrows, and the low-mintage 1886 Philadelphia quarter (only 5,000 struck).

Proof Issues & Type Sets

Proof Liberty Seated quarters were officially distributed beginning in 1858, with annual mintages typically ranging from 600 to 1,000 pieces. These were especially favored by 19th-century collectors and remain in demand today. High-grade Proofs (PR63 and above) from the 1858–1873 era are elusive, and those with arrows (1873–1874) command strong premiums due to their type status. Later Proofs (1879–1890) are popular for their low mintage complements to rare business strikes.

Why Collect Liberty Seated Quarters With Motto?

Collectors and investors alike are rediscovering the relative scarcity of Seated Liberty quarters—particularly in high-end circulated grades. Unlike their dime and half dollar counterparts, mid- to high-grade Seated quarters are surprisingly elusive. Whether you're assembling a 19th-century type set, building a complete Liberty Seated quarter collection, or investing in tangible American numismatic history, this series offers exceptional depth and long-term desirability.