The second Silver Dollar struck by the United States Mint, the Seated Liberty Dollar, differed from its predecessor in that it remained in production for a long time — more than 30 years. Because of this extended period of production, this particular coin is generally fairly easy to obtain.
For Precious Metals collectors, however, simply finding a Seated Liberty Dollar is not enough, because collectors prize perfectly preserved specimens.
Seated Liberty Silver Dollars are all more than a century old and most spent lots of time in circulation. These coins are in Poor condition more often than not. Even pieces that have escaped the ravages of time will show a bit of wear because these coins were so readily exchanged.
WHAT YOU WILL PAY FOR A SEATED LIBERTY SILVER DOLLAR
THE MOST DESIRABLE SEATED LIBERTY SILVER DOLLARS
Clearly, the most desirable Silver Dollars are those that bear the earliest dates. Coins produced during the 1840s will be highly sought after by serious collectors. These coins are all well over 150 years old and have taken an amazing journey through history.
Of course, the fact that these coins are in high demand also means they are some of the most expensive. Besides the age of the coin, collectors value excellent condition. It is sadly all too common for a coin that is more than a century old to have extensive damaged, so finding one of these coins in excellent condition is a remarkable feat.
SEATED LIBERTY SILVER DOLLARS’ FUTURE VALUE
Seated Liberty Dollar Values
Key Design Changes Over Time
The Seated Liberty quarter wasn’t a static coin. It evolved—sometimes subtly, sometimes significantly:
1838–1853 (No Arrows, No Motto)
The earliest versions had no motto above the eagle and no arrows at the date.
Pure silver composition (90%) but a little heavy for the time.
Key dates: 1838, 1839-O (first New Orleans quarter), 1842-O Small Date.
1853–1855 (Arrows & Rays)
Arrows added at the date to show weight reduction due to rising silver prices.
1853 only has rays behind the eagle on the reverse—very popular and short-lived.
Key date: 1853 Arrows & Rays is a collector favorite.
1856–1865 (Arrows Only, Then Dropped)
Arrows remained until 1855, then were removed as the new standard weight was locked in.
Civil War-era coins can be scarce due to hoarding and lower mintages.
Keep an eye out for 1860-O and low-mintage 1864.
1866–1891 (With Motto: “In God We Trust”)
Motto added above the eagle in 1866 following the Civil War.
More branch mint activity—coins struck in San Francisco, New Orleans, and later Carson City.
Notable dates: 1870-CC (the first Carson City quarter and a monster rarity), 1873-CC No Arrows, and the 1876-CC.
Valuation Chart
Date / Type
G4
F12
VF20
XF40
1838 No Drapery
$100
$180
$300
$550
1839-O
$125
$225
$375
$700
1842-O Small Date
$90
$160
$300
$525
1853 Arrows & Rays
$250
$400
$700
$1,200
1854 Arrows
$45
$90
$150
$275
1858 (No Arrows)
$40
$75
$130
$250
1860-O
$90
$175
$300
$500
1861-S
$125
$250
$425
$725
1864
$300
$600
$900
$1,400
1866 w/ Motto
$85
$150
$250
$400
1870-CC
$3,000
$6,500
$10,000
$18,000
1871-CC
$400
$800
$1,200
$2,000
1873-CC No Arrows
$7,000
$13,000
$20,000
$35,000+
1876-CC
$200
$350
$600
$950
1888
$35
$65
$100
$175
1891 (Final Year)
$30
$60
$100
$165
Why Collect Them?
History: Every era is baked into this series—pre-Civil War, Reconstruction, westward growth.
Variety: From subtle design shifts to rare mintmarks and errors, there’s a lot to chase.
Challenge: High-grade pieces, especially from Carson City or during the Civil War years, can be tough—and super satisfying to track down.
Art: It’s just a beautiful coin. Classic Americana.
Historical Context by Year
1838 – First year of issue; no drapery under Liberty’s elbow; struck only in Philadelphia.
World Fact: The Victoria Cross was introduced by the British military for acts of valor.
1839 – Drapery added to Liberty’s elbow; subtle but important design shift.
World Fact: The Opium War ends with the Treaty of Nanking between China and Britain.
1840 – First New Orleans mint issue; two reverse types appear this year.
World Fact: Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” was published in the US.
1841 – Steady production; economy recovering from the Panic of 1837.
World Fact: Queen Victoria begins her reign in the UK, starting the Victorian era.
1842 – Two varieties: Large and Small Date; growing interest in date styles.
World Fact: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published in London.
1843 – U.S. annexation of Texas stirs political tensions with Mexico.
World Fact: The First Anglo-Afghan War begins between the British Empire and Afghanistan.
1844 – James K. Polk elected; Manifest Destiny rhetoric takes hold.
World Fact: The telegraph is demonstrated for the first time between Washington and Baltimore.
1845 – U.S. annexes Texas; mintages remain solid in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
World Fact: The Irish Potato Famine begins, leading to mass emigration to the U.S.
1846 – Mexican-American War begins; coinage reflects stable silver supply.
World Fact: The Oregon Treaty is signed, defining the border between the U.S. and Canada.
1847 – First U.S. postage stamps issued; coin design remains unchanged.
World Fact: The Mexican-American War continues, concluding in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
1848 – California Gold Rush begins; major influx of gold affects U.S. economy.
World Fact: The first-ever Women’s Rights Convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York.
1849 – Department of the Interior established; mint output continues steadily.
World Fact: Charles Darwin publishes “On the Origin of Species,” sparking scientific debates.
1850 – Compromise of 1850 begins shaping U.S. territories and slavery debate.
World Fact: The Crimean War begins between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, with Britain and France intervening.
1851 – Coin hoarding increases due to rising silver prices.
World Fact: The Great Exhibition opens in London, showcasing industrial revolution-era innovations.
1852 – Coin hoarding continues; some denominations scarce in circulation.
World Fact: Louis Pasteur develops the process of pasteurization in France.
1853 – Arrows and rays added to indicate reduced silver weight; major design change.
World Fact: Napoleon III establishes the French Empire, becoming its first emperor.
1854 – Arrows remain, but rays removed; San Francisco begins striking quarters.
World Fact: The Crimean War continues, drawing in international powers like Britain, France, and Sardinia.
1855 – Continued use of arrows; growing Western mint presence.
World Fact: The first Transcontinental Railroad begins construction in the U.S.
1856 – Arrows dropped as new standard weight becomes permanent.
World Fact: Queen Victoria celebrates her 19th year as the monarch of the UK.
1857 – U.S. economy hit by Panic of 1857; coin production takes a dip.
World Fact: The Indian Rebellion of 1857 begins, challenging British rule in India.
1858 – Coin hoarding continues; some denominations scarce in circulation.
World Fact: The UK abolishes slavery in most colonies with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act.
1859 – Comstock Lode discovered; huge silver find will impact coinage.
World Fact: Charles Darwin publishes “On the Origin of Species,” a turning point in evolutionary theory.
1860 – Abraham Lincoln elected; sectional tensions high.
World Fact: Abraham Lincoln is elected 16th president of the U.S., sparking secession from the South.
1861 – Civil War begins; Southern mints cease production under Union authority.
World Fact: The U.S. Civil War begins, the most significant conflict in American history up until that point.
1862 – Paper money introduced; silver coins vanish from circulation.
World Fact: The Emancipation Proclamation is signed by Abraham Lincoln.
1863 – Civil War continues; many coins melted or hoarded.
World Fact: The Battle of Gettysburg marks a turning point in the Civil War.
1864 – Reduced coinage at all mints; gold and silver stay scarce in everyday use.
World Fact: The U.S. Congress passes the National Banking Act, creating a uniform currency.
1865 – Civil War ends; mint resumes regular operations, motto soon to be added.
World Fact: Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth; the Civil War ends.
1866 – “In God We Trust” added to reverse; a post-war design update.
World Fact: The First Transcontinental Railroad is completed in the U.S.
1867 – Alaska purchased from Russia; mintages remain low.
World Fact: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia, setting the stage for future growth.
1868 – U.S. continues rebuilding; numismatic interest starts to grow.
World Fact: The Meiji Restoration in Japan begins, rapidly modernizing the country.
1869 – Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad; coins reach more Americans.
World Fact: The Suez Canal is opened, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
1870 – First Carson City quarters minted; 1870-CC becomes a legendary rarity.
World Fact: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia, changing its territorial landscape.
1871 – CC mint expands production; Civil War still impacts coin distribution.
World Fact: The French Third Republic is established after the Franco-Prussian War.
1872 – Mint Act of 1873 is discussed; will overhaul coinage laws.
World Fact: The Eiffel Tower begins construction in Paris, becoming an iconic symbol.
1873 – Arrows added again to mark slight weight change; 1873-CC No Arrows is a key rarity.
World Fact: The Panic of 1873 leads to an economic depression in Europe and the U.S.
1874 – Arrows still present; production stable across mints.
World Fact: The Indian National Congress is founded in India, setting the stage for independence movements.
1875 – Arrows removed; design remains consistent for the rest of the series.
World Fact: The first telephone line is set up between Boston and Somerville.
1876 – Centennial of U.S. Independence; quarter production peaks with demand.
World Fact: The Centennial Exposition is held in Philadelphia, showcasing American progress.
1877 – Reconstruction ends; low mintages reflect limited coin demand.
World Fact: The U.S. government grants the first Native American citizenship rights under the Dawes Act.
1878 – Bland-Allison Act passed, pushing silver coinage back into circulation.
World Fact: The Great Blizzard of 1888 strikes the U.S., leading to massive snowstorms and devastation.
1879 – Mint resumes stronger silver coin output post-depression.
World Fact: The first electric streetcar is introduced in Richmond, Virginia.
1880 – Steady production; silver coinage regains popularity.
World Fact: The first electric streetlights are turned on in New York.
1881 – President Garfield assassinated; coinage design unchanged.
World Fact: Cholera ravages Europe, killing tens of thousands.
1882 – Carson City mintage very low; coins now rare and desirable.
World Fact: The Statue of Liberty is officially dedicated in New York.
1883 – Brooklyn Bridge opens; U.S. minting remains consistent.
World Fact: The first automobile race takes place in Paris, beginning a new era of transportation.
1884 – Political tensions rise; quarter production holds steady.
World Fact: The American Federation of Labor is founded, changing the labor landscape.
1885 – Ulysses S. Grant dies; numismatic community grows.
World Fact: The first electric streetlights are turned on in New York.
1886 – Statue of Liberty dedicated; no major changes to the quarter series.
World Fact: The Eiffel Tower completes its final construction phase.
1887 – Dawes Act signed; Native American policy shifts.
World Fact: The Chicago School of architecture begins transforming urban skylines.
1888 – Benjamin Harrison elected; late Seated Liberty quarters more affordable.
World Fact: The Eastman Kodak Company is founded, bringing photography to the masses.1889 – Continued production; a stable year for the Seated Liberty design, but coin collectors began noticing the upcoming changes with the new Barber design.
World Fact: The first issue of “The Wall Street Journal” is published.
1890 – Mintages decline as the Seated Liberty Quarter nears its end; the design is increasingly viewed as outdated.
World Fact: The Wounded Knee Massacre takes place, a pivotal event in Native American history.
1891 – Last year of the Seated Liberty Quarter; the Barber design replaces it in 1892, marking the end of an era in American coinage.
World Fact: The National American Woman Suffrage Association is formed, fighting for women’s voting rights.
