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The Seated Liberty Quarter represented the face of the denomination for much of the 19th century, with pieces struck from 1838 until 1891. Six different subtypes were produced during this period, due to multiple changes to the designs and specifications that took place throughout the series.
At the time the new design for the quarter dollar was introduced, the same basic obverse design had already been in use for the half dime and dime since the previous year. The design would later be adopted for the half dollar in 1839 and the silver dollar in 1840. The “Seated Liberty” design was an old concept that was based on Britannia, who had been featured on British coins. Artist Thomas Sully made a number of sketches, which assistant engraver Christian Gobrecht would modify to become suitable for coinage.
In 1866, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the reverse. The Liberty Seated obverse in combination with the eagle reverse with the added motto then continued in use through 1891, with the exception of some 1873 issues and all 1874 issues, which again displayed arrows at the date.
Obverse
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Depicts the figure of Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap, which had been a pre-eminent symbol of freedom during the movement of Neoclassicism (and in fact traces its roots back to Ancient Greece and Rome). Liberty's right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word "Liberty". The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty. Thirteen six-pointed stars around the rim, commemorating the original thirteen colonies. LIBERTY |
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Reverse
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A left-facing bald eagle about to take flight, with a striped shield upon its breast. The eagle clutched an olive branch of peace in its right talons and a group of arrows in its left talons. Above the eagle around the rim were a ribbon with the motto "In God We Trust" and the words "United States of America". Below the eagle around the rim lay the coin denomination. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
Edge |