Top 25 Liberty Seated Quarter Varieties

The Top 25 Liberty Seated Quarter Varieties were initially published in the Liberty Seated Collectors Club's Gobrecht Journal, Issue #111. Greg Johnson was the author and worked extensively with club colleagues toward the Top 25 Variety set formulation. Following are excerpts from Greg's article that provide the selection background and proper context.

The Liberty Seated quarter series has been referred to as an extreme series due to its many scarce and rare dates. Historically, the only thing rarer than the quarters has been collectors who pursue the set by die variety. Recent increases in the popularity and availability of the coins, due in part to dealer websites and internet based auctions, have spawned a small be dedicated group of collectors who specialize in Liberty Seated quarters by die variety. These collectors have realized that building this die variety set presents a unique numismatic opportunity for those with the patience and persistence to undertake the challenge.

Formulating a Liberty Seated Quarter Top 25 Variety set as a collecting goal has involved detailed discussions and input from both advanced Seated quarter collectors and knowledgeable dealers with many years of experience. The effort to assemble the list was announced at two LSCC club meetings during 2010 and public input was solicited. Then, following initial consultation with some well known collectors and dealers, interested parties were invited to vote. The list, as chronicled below, represents an effective consensus of the voters. No coin included on the list received more than one vote for removal and no coin excluded from the list received more that one vote for inclusion. Many of the coins on the list were unanimously agreed upon. In the event of ties in voting, the decision as to which coin to include was made based on a buffet approach to define the overall set. The buffet approach refers to the idea of not including too many varieties of a single kind; for example, in a tie between a misplaced date variety and a doubled die reverse variety, the decision was made on how many other varieties of each kind were already included in the set. This concept also applied to rarity, since the desire was to have a set that included some rare and some relatively common varieties. Of couple of excessively rare varieties were bypassed in favor of more generally available, but equally interesting and popular, alternatives.

Throughout the descriptions in the Top 25 Variety set, the term "Briggs" will refer to The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of United States Liberty Seated Quarters by Larry Briggs that was published in 1991. Additional abbreviations will include "GJ" for Gobrecht Journal, "CV" for Collective Volumes, "LSCC" for Liberty Seated Collectors Club.

 

Top 25 Liberty Seated Quarter Varieties

Click on the underlined date to see Greg Johnson's Quarter of Month articles for each Top 25 variety (when available)

Variety Number

Date

Variety Location

Briggs Reference

Descriptions and Requirement for Variety

1

1839

Reverse

4 - C

Very Long Claws. The 1839 very long claws variety with large beaded obverse border was discovered around 1990. It is the third reverse type used on 1838 and 1839 No Drapery quarters. The key attribution point is the appearance of the eagle's claws on the reverse.

2

1840-O

Reverse

1 - A

With Drapery - Large O Mintmark. A transitional coin between the No Drapery and With Drapery designs. The obverse die features the new with drapery design, while the reverse is struck from a reworked no drapery die

3

1841-O

Obverse

2 - C
Doubled Die Obverse. Obverse exhibits dramatically doubled stars and shield while the reverse has a unique mintmark location; nearly centered, just slightly left of crotch

4

1842-O

Obverse

1 - A
Small Date. The most reliable attribution tool is the date style; though the date is clearly smaller than the large date obverses, it is difficult to distinguish without a large date quarter for side-by-side comparison. Specifically, the flag of the 1 is notably shorter and straighter than the large date counterparts.

5

1843-O

Reverse

3 - F

Large O Mintmark. The mintmark is much larger than any other die pairing used during the year. This variety has been recognized as a key variety and is listed in all leading numismatic catalogs and price guides

6

1844-O

Reverse

Unlisted

Large O Mintmark - Reverse of 1843. The 1843 Large O reverse was paired with an 1844 obverse die and re-used to strike additional coins, creating a second, unique and equally interesting variety.

7

1847/47

Obverse and Reverse

2 - A

Repunched Date and Doubled Die Reverse. The 1847 quarters feature many varieties, including both an 1847/47 repunched date obverse, and a doubled die reverse. Perhaps the most interesting variety, though, is the combination of the two.

8

1848

Obverse and Reverse

1 - A

Repunched Date with Compass Point Reverse. A combination of obverse repunching of all four digits in the date and reverse compass point (circular) gap in the shield lines.

9

1850

Obverse
1 - A
Misplaced Base of 1 Digit on Rim. The base of the 1 digit is seen on the rim as the date punch apparently very nearly missed the coin entirely. The rims, being a high point, wear more quickly that any other part of the design so that the 1 digit on the rim is only clear on coins grading choice VF or better.
10
Obverse
1 - A
Repunched Date Die Used for Proofs and Business Strikes. An 52/52 repunched date with the obverse die also used for proof strikes
11
Obverse
1 - A
No Arrows. Attribution is simple in that the absence of arrows and rays is obvious. Authentication, however, is a must as attempts have been made to pass altered 1858 quarters as 1853 no arrows.
12
Obverse
1 - A
Arrows and Rays: 3 Over 4 Digit Overdate. The attribution points are the bar of the 4, which appears under the 3 in the date, and notable repunching of the right arrow.
13
Reverse
3 - E
Filled O Mintmark More than 80 reverse dies were used to strike Liberty Seated Quarters at the New Orleans mint. Only one of those deteriorated in such a way as to produce a “filled O” die state.
14
Reverse
Unlisted
Final Mintmark over Horizontal Mintmark The only reliable method for identifying this variety is the mintmark itself. Look for earlier mintmark in the top and bottom loop of final mintmark.
15
Reverse
1 - A
Huge O Mintmark. Huge O is the most obvious, and possibly the most popular, Liberty Seated Quarter variety due to an . immediately apparent extremely large and misshapen mintmark
16
Obverse
3 - B
Crumbled Die Obverse. To quality as a crumbled obverse die, the 4 digit in the date must be filled in with a large chunk on top of right arrow.
17
Obverse
Unlisted
Misplaced Flag of 1 Digit in Gown. The flag of a 1 digit on the gown is seen just to the right of the obverse shield. This is a fairly common variety.
18
1856-S/s
Reverse
4 - E
Large S over Small s Mintmark. The small “s” is clearly visible underneath the large “S”. The 1856-S/s quarter is a well-known and popular variety amongst specialists.
19
Obverse
Unlisted
Smoking Liberty, Obverse Die Break. A die break at Liberty’s left (facing) hand that makes it appear at first glance that she is holding a cigarette.
20
Reverse
6 - F
Reverse Clash with Flying Eagle Cent. The reverse of the quarter has parts of the Flying Eagle Cent design showing above and below the left (facing) wing, above the right wing and within the shield. Attribution is easiest on high-grade coins.
21
Obverse and Reverse
1 - A
2 - A
Die Pairing of Type II Obverse with Type 1 Reverse. On Type II Obverse, shield lines added above the E in LIBERTY; Liberty’s head, face and hair are redesigned. On Type I Reverse, eagle’s eye concave, final A in AMERICA lower than the other letters in the legend.
22
Obverse
2 - B
3 - B
No Arrows and Closed 3 Date Punch. Rare, attributing the 1873 No Arrows Closed 3 is quite simple, verify the absence of arrows and the closed 3 – which is very different from the open 3.
23
1877-S
Reverse
4 - D
Final S Mintmark over Horizontal S. Look for artifacts of the horizontal mintmark to the left of the final S mintmark.
24
1878-CC
Obverse
1 - A
1 - B
Cancelled Obverse Die, Long Die Scratch Through Liberty's Mid-section. A very scarce variety with a long, heavy die scratch starting from Liberty’s right kneecap and extending to the left arm.
25
1891
Obverse
7 - G
Misplaced 89 Digits in Denticles. A rare variety with the appearance of the tops of an “8” and a “9” in the denticles below the date.

 

 

Top 25 Liberty Seated Quarter Varieties

 

Variety #1 - 1839 Very Long Claws


        

Summary: The 1839 very long claws with the large beaded border obverse was originally discovered about 1990. It represents the third type of reverse used on the 1838 and 1839 no drapery quarters. The beaded border may be the result of an anomaly in striking that leaves the dentils from 2 to 9 o’clock on the obverse struck in higher relief than the rim. Without the rim to protect them, they wear more quickly than other features on the coin, giving them a flattened (enlarged) look, which appears more extreme on lower grade coins.

Attribution: As the name suggests, the key attribution point is the appearance of the eagle’s claws on the reverse.

Rarity: The 1839 very long claws was considered very rare when first discovered - only one example was known in 1991. The 1993 LSCC survey showed 4 examples in club member’s hands and the 2007 survey 24. Though still the scarcest of the die varieties it would correctly be called very scarce, but not rare, today. Seated quarter expert Ray Lathrop commented in the March, 2007 E-Gobrecht (vol. 3, no. 3), “Concerning the Long Claws Seated Quarter, I see them from time to time on Ebay, so while they may be the scarcest variety, I don't think they're rare."

Condition: The average grade of the very long claws variety is somewhat less than that of 1839 quarters in general. Though a few nice AU and uncirculated specimens do exist, the variety becomes increasingly rare with grade. Almost all examples are weakly struck on Liberty’s head and the eagle’s left (facing) leg. Finest known is an NGC MS62 example, seen in the Gene Bruder inventory at the 2005 Central States Convention. This example was prooflike and exhibited a weak strike in the arrow feathers, similar to the Briggs plate coin. A second NGC MS-62 example (possibly the same coin) appeared in Heritage Long Beach 2/2001:5773 and realized $1437.50.

 

Variety #2 - 1840-O With Drapery, Large O Mintmark

        

Summary: The 1840 – O With Drapery Large O quarter is a transitional coin between the No Drapery and With Drapery designs. The obverse die features the new with drapery design, while the reverse is struck from a reworked no drapery die. A unique feature of the reverse is a second set of denticles, which appear to have been hand cut during the reworking of the die. During 2007-2008 the LSCC membership voted this coin number 7 on the list of greatest New Orleans seated coins.

Attribution: Obverse – drapery. Reverse - Large centered O and second hand-cut set of denticles. The denticle effect is evocative of the 1794 starred reverse cent, featuring 94 stars engraved within the reverse denticles and famously described by William Sheldon as “the whim of an idle hour at the Mint.”

Rarity: Larry Briggs, in The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Liberty Seated Quarters, called this issue the “rarest collectible seated quarter.” At the time, there were 16 verified examples in all grades. Current estimates place the number at 35-40 in all grades combined. The total number of examples in LSCC member’s hands increased from 6 in 1993 to 11 in the 2007 survey.

Condition: Most examples are in VG or lower condition and/or have significant problems. All known examples have characteristic reverse strike weakness (due to die bulges) at the inside of the eagle’s right wing (near the shield), the right (facing) leg and the arrow feathers. There are two MS63 examples known and one AU. A PCGS MS63 example appeared in Heritage 3/2007:632 and did not sell, with a reserve reportedly in the mid-$30000 range. A 2nd PCGS MS63 specimen appeared in Heritage ANA 7/1994:6510, realizing $10120. The two coins appear to be different, with the second exhibiting several obverse stars more weakly struck (judging by the black and white halftone catalog plate). Several XF examples have been seen, though most have been cleaned and/or damaged.

 

Variety #3 - 1841-O Doubled Die Obverse

        

PCGS MS63 Heritage Auction 1175 Lot 4122 10/18/2012 PCGS Cert# 18567400

Summary: The 1841 – O doubled die obverse was rare until 1982 when the discovery of the New Orleans hoard increased the number known by more than 200 pieces. John Kleeberg, in Numismatic Finds of the Americas, indicated the hoard included 2000 1841-Os, of which 200 were the doubled die obverse variety. A definitive inventory of the hoard was never created, as the hoard site was open to the public and gathered immediate attention from onlookers. Area dealers such as James Cohen viewed much of the material in the secondary market and were able to reasonably speculate as to the original contents.

Attribution: Obverse – dramatically doubled stars and shield. Reverse – unique mintmark location; nearly centered, just slightly left of crotch.

Rarity: The doubled die obverse die marriage is the most common of the 1841 – O die pairings. Though scarce, it cannot be considered a rare coin. Only 10 examples were reported in the 1993 survey and only 15 in 2007, though both surveys had many unattributed 1841-O quarters reported.

Condition: The majority of the variety that exist today were part of the New Orleans Hoard recovered in 1982. Many have problems as a result of being in the ground for many decades. Coins are available in all circulated grades, but are generally quite poorly struck. A number exist in lower mint state grades.

 

Variety #4 - 1842-O, Small Date

        

NGC AU53 Heritage Auction 1177 Lot 3507 11/29/12 NGC Cert#3413515-001

Summary: The 1842-O Small Date has long been recognized as a major variety and is listed in all major catalogs and price guides. The variety appeared in print as early as 1881, when it was catalogued in John Haseltine’s Type Table. During 2007-2008 the LSCC membership voted it number 6 on the list of greatest New Orleans seated coins. PCGS Coin #5403.

Attribution of the obverse is not always straightforward as the date position is similar to the large date obverse dies. The most reliable attribution tool is the date style; though the date is clearly smaller than the large date obverses, it is difficult to distinguish without a large date quarter for side-by-side comparison. Specifically, the flag of the 1 is notably shorter and straighter than the large date counterparts. The reverse can be distinguished from all but one of the large date reverses by mintmark position. Large date reverse D has a similar mintmark position, but the eagle’s claws are drastically different; reverse D has a transitional “open claws” reverse unique to that particular die. There is also a small but notable die lump on the small date reverse near a dentil between the left most pair of olive leaves. Late states of the reverse die feature a notable gouge in the left half of the shield resulting from damage to the die.

Rarity: The 1842-O Small Date is a rare coin in all grades and has been recognized as such for some time. Two uncirculated examples are known; though specimens in XF/AU or better are quite rare. An NGC MS61 example appeared in ANR Kennywood 1/2005:430 and sold at $21,850. This coin previously appeared in Bowers 8/1995:108, selling at $13,750. An NGC MS63 coin sold in Heritage ANA 8/2006:5177 at $74,750, previously Heritage Spring ANA 3/1995:5308 at $10,890. This coin currently resides in the Gardner collection. A total of 13 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey, doubling to 26 in 2007. PCGS has certified 48 examples and NGC has certified 36. Only 8 of the 48 coins PCGS has certified grade better than VF and one has to suspect that NGC numbers are inflated by resubmissions with 22 coins reported higher than VF30.

Condition: Generally well struck with about 10% of the issue having die damage resulting in a depression in the reverse shield. The grade profile is typical - rarity increases with grade. Though 26 coins were reported in the 2007 LSCC survey, 13 of them were in grades below fine.


Variety #5 - 1843-O, Large O Mintmark

        

NGC MS64 Heritage Auction 1181 Lot 5594 1/10/2013 NGC Cert#656662-003 Eliasberg

Summary: The 1843 – O Large O has been recognized as a major variety and is listed in all major catalogs and price guides.

Attribution of this variety is straightforward as the mintmark is much larger than any other die pairing used during the year.

Rarity: The 1843-O Large O is a rare coin in all grades and has been recognized as such for some time. At least one uncirculated specimen is known and specimens in XF/AU are quite rare. The Eliasberg coin (Bowers 4/1997:1434) was graded MS-65, raw, and sold at $14,300. Heritage 2/2003:628, ANACS AU53, sold at $3,105. This coin currently resides in an NGC AU-55 holder. A total of 12 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey, increasing to 28 in 2007.

Condition: Generally well struck but from heavily rusted dies. Large die rust lumps appear throughout the reverse. The rusted reverse is quite distinct and as such the SEGS grading service has been known to slab the coin with the reverse side showing on the front of the holder. Though 28 coins were reported in the 2007 LSCC survey, 17 of them were in grades below fine.

 

Variety #6 - 1844-O, Large O Mintmark - Reverse of 1843

        

Summary: The 1843 – O Large O reverse was paired with an 1844 obverse die and re-used to strike additional coins, creating a second, unique and equally interesting variety. The 1844 – O Reverse of 1843 – O Large O, unknown at the time Briggs was published, was discovered in 1993 by Ray Lathrop. The die rust lumps noted on the 1843 coins are still present, but the 1844 version also features two die alignments - 180 degree die rotation (medal turn) as well as a normal coin axis. In addition, late die states have very heavy die cracks across the reverse. Similarly rotated coins were produced by the New Orleans mint during this period, including the 1844-O half dime, 1842-O half dollar, and 1839-O quarter eagle, all of which were coined with dies in both coin turn and medal turn positions.

Attribution of the 1844 – O Reverse of 1843 – O Large O is obvious when found with 180 degree die rotation. In fact, no other New Orleans seated quarter is known with such a rotation. When found with normal coin alignment it can be more challenging, as all 1844 – O quarters feature a large mintmark. The obverse of the 1844 – O die pairing has very prominent die scratches between the dentils and stars 12 and 13. The reverse is notable for the heavy raised die rust lumps, the mintmark embedded in the crotch, and heavy cracks in the later die states.

Rarity: This variety is rare and seems to occur in about equal numbers with rotated and non-rotated dies. Reports from collectors indicate that the rotated (medal turn) coins are more prevalent, but it is likely that the ease of attribution of the rotated version makes them seem more common than they are relative to the more-difficult-to-attribute coins with normal alignment. The coin was unknown at the time of the 1993 LSCC survey and was not included in the 2007 survey.

Condition: This variety is very rare in grades of fine or better.

 

Variety #7 - 1847, Repunched Date and Doubled Die Reverse

        

PCGS MS63 Heritage Auction 1116 Lot 1513 9/18/2008 PCGS Cert#11829688

Summary: The 1847 quarters feature many varieties, including both an 1847/47 repunched date obverse, and a doubled die reverse. Perhaps the most interesting variety, though, is the combination of the two.

Attribution: Obverse – in higher grade the repunching of the 47 is clear. In lower grades the obverse can be identified by the date position, which is left of all the other obverse dies (the right side of the 1 lines up with the fourth shield line). Reverse – Dramatic doubling most evident in the legend and eagle’s claws.

Rarity: The variety is rare, but not extremely rare in comparison to other seated quarter varieties. Only 4 examples were reported in the 1993 survey and that number remained at 4 for the 2007 LSCC survey.

Condition: This coin can be found in all grades – roughly in equal proportion to the other die pairings of the date. At least one mint state coin and a few AU examples are known. The Gardner collection coin is PCGS MS64, labeled on the holder as “Dbld Die Rev.”

 

Variety #8 - 1848, Repunched Date with Compass Point Reverse


        

PCGS MS63 Heritage Auction 1136 Lot 870 1/6/2010 PCGS Cert#21350931

           

Summary: There are only two known die pairings of the 1848 quarter. Both have repunched dates – one doubled and one tripled. The doubled date is included here as it pairs with the “compass point reverse” that appears on many Liberty Seated Quarters from the years 1847 through 1858. The compass point effect is seen on other U.S. coinage of the same period and is thought to be related to the die hubbing process introduced after 1835 – Craig Sholley writes further on this in Gobrecht Journal #73.

Attribution: Obverse – repunching of all four digits in the date. Reverse – compass point (circular) gap in the shield lines.

Rarity: The 1848 quarter is a very scarce coin in circulated grades that becomes very rare in mint state. The doubled date with compass point reverse appears about twice as often as the tripled date variety. A total of 25 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey and 31 in 2007.

Condition: Generally well-struck and available in all grades except mint state. Rarity increases with grade. The 31 coins reported in the 2007 survey were distributed as 12 in VF and below, 12 in the XF grades, 5 AU, and 2 MS.

 

Variety #9 - 1850, Misplaced 1 Digit on Rim

        

NGC MS65* Heritage Auction 1190 Lot 33186 11/15/2013 Eric P Newman NGC Cert #2037631-057

Summary: The 1850 with 1 on the rim is an interesting and unique misplaced date. Apparently, the date punch very nearly missed the coin entirely. One disadvantage of this variety is that at least a mid-grade coin is necessary in order to clearly see the MPD. The rims, being a high point, wear more quickly that any other part of the design so that the 1 on the rim is only clear on coins grading choice VF or better.

Attribution is straightforward, as one only has to look for the 1 on the rim.

Rarity of the variety is about twice that of the other 1850 die pair (without the 1 on the rim). The LSCC survey in 1993 reported a total of 33 examples – 10 with the extra 1 and 23 without. The 2007 survey reported a total of 43 examples – 17 with the extra 1 and 26 without.

Condition: The variety is well struck, as are all of the Philadephia quarters of the year. Rarity increases with grade.

 

Variety #10 - 1852, Repunched Date Die used for Business and Proof Strikes

        

NGC PR65 Heritage Auction 1184 lot 4222 4/25/2013 NGC Cert 1898957-053

Summary: The 1852/52 is just another repunched date but for the fact that the obverse die is the proof die. The 1852 is, in its own right, a scarce coin in all grades. The 1852/52 variety is rare, making up only a small percentage of the 1852 quarters available. It is not unexpected that in a year in which only two proofs were known to have been struck that a proof die was re-used for production runs (one proof is in the ANS collection, a second was sold in Heritage ANA 8/2008:1823 at $138,000, ex. Pittman, part of the Kaufman set). Nonetheless, the 1852 represents the first clear-cut case of a Liberty Seated Quarter proof die being employed to strike coins for circulation.

Attribution of the 1852/52 is straightforward, even on low grade coins, as the date position is unique to the obverse die. The right side of the one lines up with shield lines 6/7 as opposed to the other obverse die which has a date further to the left (shield line 5). A second diagnostic is the bottom tip of the shield, which points to the “8” on the 1852/52. On the obverse die, it points to the space between the “1” and “8.”

Rarity: The 1852/52 is a rare coin that becomes increasingly more difficult with grade. The die pair probably represents less than 10% of all 1852 quarters. The 1852/52 represented 2 of 21 examples of the 1852 quarter reported in the 1993 LSCC survey and 10 of 46 examples in the 2007 survey. A study of 30 recent sales of 1852 quarters in the Heritage Auction archive revealed five examples (including the proof coin mentioned above).

Condition: There appear to be more high-grade examples than one would expect based on overall rarity. This is true of both die pairs for the date and is undoubtedly due to melting of the circulating coins following the weight change in 1853. Average to strong strikes seem to be the rule for 1852 quarters of both die pairs.

 

Variety #11 - 1853 No Arrows

        

PCGS MS65 Heritage Auction 1124 Lot 388 4/29/2009 PCGS Cert#7425416

Summary: The 1853 No Arrows is a long-recognized and popular rarity in the seated quarter series. The variety was recognized as early as 1867 when it was catalogued by W. Elliot Woodward in the Mickley sale. During 2008 the LSCC membership voted it number 8 on the list of greatest Philadelphia seated coins. PCGS Coin #5421.

Attribution is quite simple in that the absence of arrows and rays is obvious. Authentication, however, is a must as attempts have been made to pass altered 1858 quarters as 1853 no arrows. The alert collector will have no trouble spotting this alteration as the date styles of the two issues are notably different; specifically, the 1853 has a slanted upright in the “5” and the 1858 does not. An even cruder attempt showed up in the inventory of Seated coinage dealer Rich Uhrich several years ago. This coin was an altered 1853 A&R with the arrows effaced. The rays remained on the reverse – such coins will not fool even the least advanced beginner. The coin was presented by Uhrich as an alteration.

Rarity: The 1853 No Arrows is a rare coin that is difficult to find in any grade. The 1853 No Arrows was the least reported of the Philadelphia mint issues in the 1993 LSCC survey with a total of 12 examples. That number increased to 20 in 2007. PCGS and NGC have each certified 19 mint state pieces; with PCGS certifying 30 circulated coins and NGC 15.

Condition: The grade profile of the 1853 No Arrows is very unusual for a seated coin. There may be more uncirculated examples than VF’s. Certainly, because of the pricing structure, XF and better examples are far more available than lower grade pieces. Ten of the 20 pieces reported in the 2007 survey were in AU or MS grades.

 

Variety #12 - 1853/4 Arrows and Rays, 3 over 4 Digit Overdate

        

PCGS MS65/CAC Heritage Auction 1139 Lot 2083 4/29/2010 PCGS Cert#06675732

Summary: The 1853/4 is a common, readily available coin that is listed in major catalogs and price guides. PCGS Coin #5427.

Attribution: The attribution points are the bar of the 4, which appears under the 3 in the date, and notable repunching of the right arrow.

Rarity: This coin is common within the context of Liberty Seated Quarter varieties. A total of 26 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey and 31 in 2007. Though it represents a very small percentage of the 1853 Arrows and Rays quarters, there are so many 1853 AR available that the variety can be found with only a little patience. PCGS has certified 70 examples and NGC has certified 41. A variety waiting to be found is an 1853/4 with rotated dies, a characteristic seen in varying degrees on many 1853 A&R quarters.

Condition: Found in all grades including mint state, but more difficult in higher grades.

 

Variety #13 - 1853-O, Filled O Mintmark

        

Summary: More than 80 reverse dies were used to strike Liberty Seated Quarters at the New Orleans mint. Only one of those deteriorated in such a way as to produce a “filled O” die state. The filled O reverse also happens to pair with a unique and interesting obverse featuring heavy, circular die polish lines and poor detail even on high-grade coins.

Attribution: Obverse – heavy circular die polish lines around the shield and indistinct, unreadable “LIBERTY”. Note this obverse pairs with at least two other reverses. Reverse – filled “O” in late die states. Die crack running through O and clash marks above and below right wing in early die states.

Rarity: This is a rare coin, though when considered in all grades and die states it is probably not “very rare.” A total of 6 and 8 examples of this variety were reported in the 1993 and 2007 LSCC surveys, respectively.

Condition: Most examples grade Good and anything better than Very Good in quite rare.

 

Variety #14 - 1853-O, Final Mintmark over Horizontal Mintmark

        

Summary: The 1853 – O / Horizontal O was unknown when Briggs was published, but was discovered a short time later (1992) by Larry Briggs.

Attribution: The only reliable method of attribution is the mintmark itself. Lower grade coins, or those with debris filling the mintmark, can be attributed using mintmark position though it is challenging to do so.

Rarity: The variety is rare, but not extremely rare. A number of lower grade examples remain unattributed and can be found with enough searching. A total of 2 and 5 examples of this variety were reported in the 1993 and 2007 LSCC surveys, respectively.

Condition: No uncirculated specimens are known, but at least two certified AU examples exist. Only a single example reported in the 2007 survey graded as high as XF. Any example in VF or better has to be considered very rare.

 

Variety #15 - 1854-O, Huge O Mintmark

        

NGC XF45 Heritage Auction 1182 Lot 3779 2/7/2013 NGC Cert 3601966-009

Summary: The 1854-O Huge O is the most obvious, and possibly the most popular, Liberty Seated Quarter variety. PCGS Coin #5434.

Attribution: The immediately apparent extremely large and misshapen mintmark.

Rarity: Very scarce but not rare. A total of 12 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey, increasing only to 14 in 2007. PCGS and NGC have certified 43 and 34 examples, respectively, but only 9 better than XF at both services combined.

Condition: Unknown in mint state and quite rare in XF and better grades. Finest known is from the Eliasberg collection (Bowers 4/1997:1458, $4620), there graded raw, AU55, and presently in a PCGS AU58 holder. The PCGS census reveals no other AU specimens, and eight certification “events” in the EF40-EF45 range. NGC reports one coin each at the AU50, 55, and AU58 levels, along with five coins in the EF40-45 range. ANR LaBelle 7/2005:1058 ($12,075), an NGC AU50 example, was later “conserved” and reappeared on the secondary market in an AU55 holder.

 

Variety #16 - 1854-O, Crumbled Die Obverse

        

Summary: The 1854-O Crumbled Obverse Die is much more elusive than its more famous and popular counterpart, the Huge O variety. It is found in early and late die states with varying amounts of deterioration in and around the date and right arrow.

Attribution: Filled in “4”in the date and large chunk on top of right arrow.

Rarity: Very rare. One can generally find 4 or 5 Huge O coins for every crumbled obverse die example. A total of 3 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey, increasing only to 4 in 2007.

Condition: One example known in mint state, but very rare in XF and better grades.

Variety #17 - 1856, Misplaced Flag of 1 Digit on Gown

        

PCGS MS64/CAC Heritage Auction 1177 Lot 3516 11/29/2012 PCGS Cert#24899828

Summary: The 1856 with the flag of 1 in the skirt, despite being unlisted in Briggs, is a relatively common coin that can be found with just a little patience.

Attribution: The flag of a one in the skirt just to the right of the obverse shield.

Rarity: The variety does not appear to be rare, though it can be challenging to find a nice, original example.

Condition: Available in all grades; much more difficult to find in AU and MS than in lower grades.

 

Variety #18 - 1856-S/s, Large S over Small s Mintmark

        

PCGS XF40/CAC Heritage Auction 1189 Lot 6355 9/27/2013 PCGS Cert#26901778

Summary: The 1856-S/s quarter is a well-known and popular variety amongst specialists. The popularity and respect accorded the variety is enhanced by its Redbook listing status. The fact that it requires a glass and an effort to look at the mintmark specifically for the repunching makes it less than obvious to casual collectors. Until recently, the variety could be cherry picked regularly by those who knew to look. PCGS Coin #5441.

Attribution: The small “s” is clearly visible underneath the large “S”. On very low-grade coins it is difficult to use mintmark position for attribution because another reverse die used in 1856 has a very similarly placed mintmark.

Rarity: The 1856-S is a very scarce to rare coin in all grades. The 1856-S/s has been estimated to make up from 10% to 25% of all 1856-S quarters. Recently it has been much more difficult to find than those estimates tend to suggest. PCGS and NGC have certified a total of 12 coins combined. A total of 6 and 12 examples of this variety were reported in the 1993 and 2007 LSCC surveys, respectively.

Condition: Most examples tend to be low grade – VG or less. The highest graded example at PCGS is VF25. A number of specimens exist with better detail, but most will not grade at a major TPG. The single NGC AU58 is the finest known by a substantial margin. This coin came out of the Evergreeen Collection handled by Legend Numismatics in early 2002, later appeared in Stack’s 8/2007:525 ($39,100), and currently resides in the Gardner collection.

 

Variety #19 - 1857, Smoking Liberty, Obverse Die Crack

        

Summary: The 1857 Smoking Liberty is a quite recent discovery that is not listed in Briggs. It came to the attention of Liberty Seated Quarter collectors when three examples were offered for sale at auction by David Lawrence Rare Coins in August of 2009. Their write up of the first of three pieces said, “This and the next two coins come from the now famous Saverio Barbieri Cache of 28 pieces, 26 of which have been authenticated, graded and encapsulated by Dominion Grading Service (DGS). Discovered in 2000, Barbieri searched through over 30,000 Seated Liberty quarters dated 1857 and was able to find only 28 pieces. With much anticipation, these attributed pieces are offered here for the first time.”

Attribution: The die break at Liberty’s left (facing) hand that makes it appear at first glance that she is holding a cigarette.

Rarity: The variety can be considered rare. Though there is clear reason to question the claim that 30,000 coins have been searched, it is an obvious variety that is clearly not common.

Condition: In addition to the 28 pieces confirmed by David Lawrence Rare Coins and DGS, at least two mint state specimens are known, the finest being a PCGS MS64. It would appear that the variety exists in all grades.

 

Variety #20 - 1857, Reverse Clash with Flying Eagle Cent

        

Summary: The 1857 Liberty Seated Quarter clashed with a Flying Eagle Cent die is a unique coin in the series. While it would seem there is no way for such a thing to happen by accident, one is hard pressed to propose a good reason for someone to do it on purpose. A number of suspicious issues originate in this year. The 1857 Flying Eagle cent is known with clash marks which originated from a double eagle obverse (Snow-7), elsewhere with clash marks originating from a seated half dollar (Snow-9), and finally with the clash marks originating from a seated quarter dollar (Snow-8). The author recalls seeing a complete set exhibited several years ago at a major coin show. There is not much in between here – the Mint was either highly incompetent or deliberately “creative” with regard to the clashes found in 1857 coinage.

Attribution: The reverse of the quarter has parts of the Flying Eagle Cent design showing above and below the left (facing) wing, above the right wing and within the shield. Attribution is easiest on high-grade coins. The most obvious clash mark, which can consistently be identified on coins in VF or better condition, is above the left wing.

Rarity: The variety is very rare and has not been included in either LSCC survey.

Condition: NGC has attributed and certified an MS63 and an AU coin. PCGS has three attributed pieces; one in each of VF30, AU50, and MS64. Since the clashing is not visible on coins grading much less than VF, the majority of pieces known have XF/AU details.

 

Variety #21 1861, Type II Obverse Paired with Type I Reverse

        

Summary: During the years 1859 – 1861 the Type I Liberty Seated Quarter dies in use up to that time were phased out in favor of the new Type II dies. Mules combining a Type I obverse with a Type II reverse were produced during 1859. Mules combining a Type II obverse with a Type I reverse were produced in 1860 and 1861. The 1859 and 1860 mules are scarce, but the 1861 mule is a legitimately rare coin. Interestingly, despite its rarity, there are two distinct die pairings for this variety.

Attribution: Obverse (Type II) – shield lines added above the E in LIBERTY; Liberty’s head, face and hair redesigned. Reverse (Type I) – eagle’s eye concave, final A in AMERICA lower than the other letters in the legend.

Rarity: The Type II/I mule is a very rare coin. The LSCC surveys reported 7 and 5 examples in 1993 and 2007, respectively. Estimates put the number of examples well below 1% of the total population of 1861 quarters.

Condition: The variety appears in all grades, roughly in proportion to the other existing die pairings for the issue.

 

Variety #22 - 1873 No Arrows Close 3

        

NGC MS63 Heritage Auction 1124 Lot 2344 4/30/2009 NGC Cert 566752-001

Summary: A well known variety listed in the major catalogs and price guides. PCGS Coin #5484.

Attribution: Attributing the 1873 No Arrows Closed 3 is quite simple, verify the absence of arrows and the closed 3 – which is very different from the open 3. The more challenging task is ensuring that the coin is a business strike and not a proof. The proofs are much more plentiful, with a mintage of 600, and feature a date position that is very close to that of the circulation strike dies. The key way to distinguish the two is, as described in Briggs, “Die cut 1.2mm long crosses the left outlines of the shield 0.4mm below the lowest horizontal line.”

Rarity: This variety is rare. The LSCC surveys reported 13 examples in member hands in 1993 and 19 business strike specimens in 2007. There are a total of 23 and 9 business strike examples certified by PCGS and NGC, respectively.

Condition: Most specimens are in low grade and/or have problems. The variety becomes excessively rare in XF and better. Highest graded is the NGC MS63 coin, ex. Bass, ex. Boosel, which sold for $74,750 in Heritage FUN 1/2008:2785. This coin has been no stranger to the auction block, with at least five appearances since 1999.

Variety #23 - 1877-S / Horizontal S

        

PCGS MS64/CAC Heritage Auction 1128 Lot 594 7/31/2009 PCGS Cert#14526822

Summary: A well known variety listed in the major catalogs and price guides. PCGS Coin #5507.

Attribution is quite simply the mintmark, which is easily identified.

Rarity: Despite only 7 specimens being reported in the 2007 survey (this issue wasn’t reported in the 1993 survey) the variety is quite common and readily available. PCGS and NGC have certified 88 examples combined.

Condition: This coin is available in all grades, including mint state. PCGS and NGC list 20 total examples in MS64 with 6 finer.

 

Variety #24 - 1878-CC, Cancelled Die Obverse

        

PCGS MS64 Heritage Auction 1104 Lot 826 4/16/2008 PCGS Cert#12347801

Summary: This is an interesting and unique issue in which the obverse die was defaced prior to being used to strike coins. Though called the “cancelled die” obverse, and though the nature of the damage to the die would suggest a deliberate act, it is unlikely the intent was to actually cancel the die. Dies known to have been deliberately defaced in order to cancel them show much more severe and widespread damage.

Attribution is obvious due to a long, heavy die scratch starting from Liberty’s right kneecap and extending to the left arm.

Rarity: The variety is scarce, but available in all grades with patience. A total of 12 examples were reported in the 1993 LSCC survey, but only 7 in 2007.

Condition: Generally well struck, but from heavily rusted dies. High-grade specimens tend to be proof-like.

 

Variety #25 - 1891, Misplaced 89 Digits in Denticles

     

Summary: Repunched and misplaced dates were relatively common occurrences during the early years of the Liberty Seated Quarter series, but very unusual during the later years.

Attribution requires verifying the appearance of the tops of an “8” and a “9” in the denticles below the date.

Rarity: A rare coin. A single example was reported in the 1993 LSCC survey and only 7 in the 2007 survey.

Condition: Though rare, the pieces that do exist appear to include most grades. The 2007 survey included 2 mint state examples, 2 in XF and 3 in F/VF.

 

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