1842 Seated Liberty Quarter

About This Coin

The 1842 Seated Liberty Quarter is a United States quarter from the Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891 series — an early issue, 5th of 54 years in the series. In 1842, coins were struck at the New Orleans and Philadelphia Mints with a combined mintage of 1.6 million. This ranks 41st of 54 years by total mintage, above the series median of 500,580. 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 and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Minted during the age of Jacksonian democracy and the rise of the common man, as new branch mints opened in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 6.74 grams, 24.3 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Across its variants, estimated values range from $81 to $87K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $282K in PR65 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht.