¼ Dollar "Seated Liberty Quarter" without motto, reduced weight (1859) — United States

Overview

A silver ¼ Dollar coin of the United States, known as the 'Seated Liberty Quarter' (without motto, reduced weight). Minted in 1859 at the United States Mint of New Orleans (bearing the 'O' mintmark) with a mintage of 260,000 pieces.

Specifications

Country

United States

Year

1859

Composition

Silver (.900) (.100 copper)

Weight

6.22 g

Diameter

24.3 mm

Mint

United States Mint of New Orleans

Mintmark

O

Shape

Round

Technique

Milled

References

KM# A64.2

Issuer

United States

Design details

Collector insights

• Design heritage: Christian Gobrecht is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
• Struck at: United States Mint of New Orleans (mintmark O). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
• Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 260,000. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
• Precious metal content: Silver (.900) (.100 copper) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
• Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# A64.2. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

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