| Coin | Quarter Dollar 1855 Seated Liberty |
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The Quarter Dollar is a United States coin worth 25 cents. It has been produced on and off since 1796 and consistently since 1831.
After the initial issue of the "Draped Bust" type (1796 - 1807), a second Capped Bust obverse was used until 1838. In 1838, the type was replaced by the Seated Liberty type design.
The weight was 6.68 grams initially, then was reduced to 6.22 grams in 1853, then was increased slightly to 6.25 g in 1873. The changes were marked by having arrow heads on both sides of the date for a couple of years.
In 1892, the type was replaced by the Liberty Head design (known as the Barber Quarter). In later years, there were also changes in size and composition (the quarter is now lighter and made of copper-nickel), but these coins have never been demonetised and are still legal tender. This, of course, is of academic interest only, as their numismatic value is enormously higher than their face value.
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the symbolic 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 (a type of cap which in Ancient Rome was worn by freed slaves). With her right hand, she supports the Union Shield, which has thirteen vertical stripes, white and red, with a blue horizontal bar on top. The colours are represented by heraldic hatching (thin lines indicating the colour - horizontal stripes for blue, vertical for red, no stripes for white). Across the shield, a diagonal banner inscribed with the word LIBERTY.
Around above, thirteen stars representing the 13 original states of the Union.
In the exergue below the figure, the date of issue: 1855. To the left and to the right of the date, two arrow heads indicate decreased weight as compared to earlier issues.
The rim is beaded. |
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| Reverse | |
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The main device on the reverse is an eagle, perched, with open wings, looking to left. On its breast, the Union Shield at centre, with thirteen vertical stripes, white and red, with a blue horizontal bar on top. The colours are represented by heraldic hatching (thin lines indicating the colour - horizontal stripes for blue, vertical for red, no stripes for white). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of three arrows in its left talon, and an olive branch in its right talon.
The arrows and olive branch together symbolise that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war". The eagle has its head turned towards the olive branch, to symbolise a preference for peace.
Coins struck by the Philadelphia Mint have no mint mark. Coins struck by the New Orleans Mint or the San Francisco Mint have a letter O or S respectively, between the eagle and the denomination.
The rim is beaded. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | This is the first year when the San Francisco Mint struck quarter dollars. |
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