Most Seated Liberty quarters are worth about $12 to $30 in worn condition. Every regular-issue coin in the series is 90% silver.
That range covers the common dates most people find, and it already sits well above face value because of the silver: a standard Seated quarter contains 0.1800 troy ounces of pure silver. The rare dates are a different market entirely — the 1870-CC starts near $45,000 in worn condition, and the unique 1873-CC No Arrows is a museum-level coin. This guide covers the value by date group, the design changes that matter, and how to check your coin. Value ranges are approximate and were checked on November 4, 2026; individual coins vary with grade, surfaces, and certification.
Seated Liberty Quarter Quick Facts
The Seated Liberty quarter was struck from 1838 to 1891 at Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City. Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Seated design — Liberty holding a shield and a liberty cap on a pole — defined U.S. silver coinage for over fifty years and appeared on the dime, quarter, half dime, half dollar, and dollar. The quarter went through several adjustments along the way: the weight dropped in 1853, arrows and rays marked that change, a motto was added above the eagle in 1866, and arrows returned briefly in 1873–1874 when the weight was nudged up again. The series ends just before the Barber quarter took over in 1892 — see our Barber quarter value guide for what came next.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Years struck | 1838–1891 |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight | 6.74 g (1838–1852); 6.22 g (1853–1891) |
| Pure silver content | 0.1950 oz (early); 0.1800 oz (1853 and later) |
| Diameter | 24.3 mm |
| Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Mints | Philadelphia, New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC) |
What Is a Seated Liberty Quarter Worth?
Value follows three things: the date and mintmark, the design subtype, and condition. Common-date coins in worn condition trade mostly on their silver plus a modest collector premium. Scarce dates, Carson City issues, and first-year subtypes trade on rarity, and the gap between a worn example and a mint-state example can be enormous.
| Date / Type | Mintage | Typical Worn Value (approx.) | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common dates, 1853–1891 (P, O, S) | Varies | $12–$30 | The range most finds fall into |
| 1838–1840 early issues | Low to moderate | $25–$75 | First years of the design; No Drapery subtype (1838–1840) adds a premium |
| 1853 Arrows and Rays | 15,210,000 (P) | $18–$40 | One-year type marking the 1853 weight reduction |
| 1873-CC No Arrows | 4 known | $1,000,000+ | Unique-class rarity; not a coin you will find in a change jar |
| 1870-CC | 8,340 | $45,000+ | First Carson City quarter and the series’ great circulation strike rarity |
| 1860-S, 1864-S, 1871-CC, 1872-CC | Low | $400–$3,000 | Low-mintage branch-mint keys |
| 1891-O and other late dates | Moderate | $15–$35 | Final year of issue keeps type-collector demand steady |
Two warnings apply to the whole series. First, cleaned coins lose a large share of their collector value even when the date is scarce. Second, counterfeit and altered-mintmark Carson City quarters exist, so any CC coin worth real money should be certified before it is bought or sold.
Silver Content and Melt Value
A Seated Liberty quarter struck from 1853 onward contains 0.1800 troy ounces of pure silver, and the earlier 1838–1852 coins contain 0.1950 ounces. Melt value is simply that content times the silver spot price (ASW × spot). At a silver spot of $52.22 per troy ounce, the melt value works out to $9.40 for a standard-weight coin and $10.19 for an early heavy coin. Common-date Seated quarters trade above melt because of collector demand; heavily worn or damaged coins trade closest to it. Data by Bullion Price Check, as of November 4, 2026, 13:55 UTC.
The Seated design ran across five denominations, and the silver math works the same way for each. Our Seated Liberty dime value guide and half dime value guide cover the smaller members of the family.
How to Check Your Seated Liberty Quarter
Start with the date and mintmark. The mintmark sits on the reverse, below the eagle and above the “QUAR. DOL.” lettering; no mintmark means Philadelphia. Then identify the subtype: arrows beside the date (1854–1855 or 1873–1874), rays around the eagle (1853 only), and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on a scroll above the eagle (1866 onward). Finally, grade honestly — on a worn coin the value is mostly silver plus scarcity, while full Liberty lettering on the shield and clear drapery detail are what move a coin into higher grades. Compare your coin’s era against the Standing Liberty quarter, the 90% silver quarter that followed a generation later.
Shop 90% Silver Quarters
Seated quarters are a 19th-century series, but the 90% silver quarter format they helped define ran well into the 20th century. Our $1 face value 90% silver Standing Liberty quarters give you the next classic quarter design in pre-1965 silver, and our $1 face value 90% silver Mercury dimes are the same .900 fine silver in dime form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Seated Liberty quarter worth?
Most Seated Liberty quarters are worth about $12 to $30 in worn condition. Scarce dates and Carson City issues are worth far more, up to $45,000 and beyond for the 1870-CC.
How much silver is in a Seated Liberty quarter?
A Seated Liberty quarter contains 0.1800 troy ounces of pure silver if struck in 1853 or later. Coins from 1838–1852 are slightly heavier and contain 0.1950 ounces.
What is the rarest Seated Liberty quarter?
The rarest Seated Liberty quarter is the 1873-CC No Arrows, with only four examples known. The most valuable regular circulation issue most collectors chase is the 1870-CC.
Where is the mintmark on a Seated Liberty quarter?
The mintmark is on the reverse, below the eagle and above the denomination lettering. Look for a small O, S, or CC; no letter means the coin was struck in Philadelphia.
Are Seated Liberty quarters a good way to own silver?
Seated Liberty quarters carry collector premiums well above their silver content, so they are collectibles first. Buyers who want silver weight at the lowest premium usually choose modern bullion or common-date pre-1965 coinage instead.
Educational content only — not financial advice.