1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter is a late-date entry in a series that ran from 1838 to 1891. All three mints active that year — Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco — struck quarters, and guide estimates range from about $46 at a worn Good-4 grade up to $6,838 at MS63, depending on which mint and condition you have.
That spread is not one price for every coin. Your specific mint, the coin's surface condition, and whether it has been cleaned or damaged all determine where it falls in that range.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter
The quickest way to start figuring out what your 1878 quarter is worth is to upload clear photos of the front and back. Our identifier uses those images for a preliminary identification of mint, design details, and approximate condition.
It will not authenticate or certify the coin, but it gives you a solid starting point before you dig deeper.
1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- 1878-S quarters command the highest guide values, with USA Coin Book listing $384 even in Good-4 and $6,838 at MS63 — the lowest mintage of the three that year drives the premium.
- 1878-CC (Carson City) quarters are perennial collector favorites, estimated at $100 in G4 and $2,083 in MS63, reflecting the strong demand for anything with that CC mintmark.
- Philadelphia 1878 quarters are the most affordable starting point at $46 in G4 and $675 in MS63, but original-surface examples in higher grades still attract serious interest.
Step 1: Identify Your 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Every 1878 Seated Liberty quarter is struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.25 grams. The obverse shows a seated Liberty figure; the reverse features an eagle with the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" on a banner above.
To figure out which version you have, flip the coin over and look below the eagle. Philadelphia strikes carry no mintmark at all.
A small "CC" means Carson City, and an "S" means San Francisco. Only those three mints produced quarters dated 1878.
Don't confuse a mintmark with a die crack or corrosion spot. The letter should be small, centered beneath the eagle, and clearly punched.
If you see an "O" or any other letter, you may be looking at a different year or denomination entirely.
Step 2: Check Your 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Grade
Start with Liberty's head on the obverse. In lower grades the cap and hair detail merge into a flat blob.
On a mid-grade coin you can still see individual lines in the hair and the separation of the cap from the forehead.
Next check Liberty's knee and the shield on her arm. These are high points that wear first.
If the knee is smooth but the shield lines are still visible, you are probably in the Fine to Very Fine range.
On the reverse, examine the eagle's breast feathers and the upper edges of the wings. Wear shows there before it reaches the tail feathers.
A word of caution: some 1878 quarters came off the press with soft strikes, especially at the centers. A weak strike can mimic wear on an otherwise uncirculated coin.
Compare the luster across the entire surface using the reference image — original mint luster is your best friend when separating a genuinely unworn coin from one that just looks flat.
Cleaned coins lose that original luster and often show tiny hairlines under light. A bright, shiny old quarter is not automatically high grade; it may just be stripped of its natural toning.
Step 3: Check 1878 Liberty Seated Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1878 Liberty Seated Quarter
The 1878 Philadelphia quarter has no mintmark — the space below the reverse eagle is clean. This is generally the most available of the three 1878 issues.
USA Coin Book estimates $46 at Good-4, $353 at MS60, and $675 at MS63. Those are guide figures, not guaranteed sale prices.
Condition matters enormously here. A well-worn example with original gray toning is still worth multiples of melt, but the jump from circulated to uncirculated is steep.
Match your coin's mint and surfaces before assuming a grade.
Coin Value Lookup is a good place to look up additional quarter guides if you are comparing across years or denominations in the Seated Liberty series.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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Coin Identifier
VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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Coin Identifier
F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
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Coin Identifier
VF 30
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Coin Identifier
VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
—
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
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—
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1878 Liberty Seated Quarter — CC
Look for the "CC" mintmark below the eagle — that marks a Carson City product. The 1878-CC quarter carries a solid collector premium thanks to the enduring popularity of the Carson City Mint among hobbyists.
USA Coin Book lists $100 at Good-4, $1,072 at MS60, and $2,083 at MS63. These are guide estimates, not offers to buy.
Even in well-circulated condition, a genuine 1878-CC quarter is worth checking carefully. Cleaning or heavy damage will pull the value down, sometimes sharply.
Before you celebrate, confirm the mintmark is genuinely struck into the coin and not tooled or added later. A loupe and good lighting help.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
Coin Identifier G G 4
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Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
Coin Identifier
VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
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—
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1878 Liberty Seated Quarter — S
The 1878-S is the prize of this year. The "S" mintmark sits below the eagle on the reverse, indicating the San Francisco Mint.
Even in heavily worn Good-4 condition, USA Coin Book estimates this coin at $384 — already well above the other two mints at the same grade.
At MS60 the guide jumps to $3,642, and at MS63 it reaches $6,838. Those are guide-level retail estimates, not guaranteed purchase prices, but they reflect genuine scarcity.
Original surfaces and accurate grading are critical at these levels.
If you think you have one, verify the mintmark carefully. An "S" should be small, neatly positioned, and consistent with the surrounding metal texture.
Any coin at this value tier deserves professional authentication before selling.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
—
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
Coin Identifier
VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
—
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
—
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
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—
—
MS 68
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—
—
MS 69
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—
—
MS 70
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