USA 25 cents Seated Liberty Quarter 1862
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Extremely Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ¼ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# A64.2 |
| Mintage | 550 |
| Metal | Silver 0.900 |
| thickness | 1.5 mm |
| diameter | 24.3 mm |
| weight | 6.22 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Bird
Coat of arms
Flags
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
QUAR.DOL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
The onset of the Civil War in 1861 drove gold and silver coins from circulation in most of the nation, as the federal paper money used to finance that undertaking was not redeemable in coin and soon depreciated. With the quarter dollar now worth more than its face value, purchasers of proofs would have to pay in kind or at a higher price in paper. This discouraged proof sales, and that fact is reflected in the lower net mintage for this date. President Lincoln's Mint Director, James Pollock, was more conservative than his predecessor, the somewhat impulsive James R. Snowden, and he wasn't going to make proof coins that wouldn't sell. He required that buyers purchase complete proof sets rather than just the denominations desire, and this further dampened collector enthusiasm. Of the 550 proof quarter dollars coined for 1862, some 430+ comprise the net mintage after melting the unsold remainder. This issue is thus more scarce than those of the several preceding years, and Cameo pieces are very elusive.Read More
