1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter was struck during the Civil War, and values today depend heavily on which mint produced your coin, whether it is a business strike or proof, and its condition. USA Coin Book guide estimates range from $46.00 to $9,341.00 across the three listed versions at specific grades.
That is not one blanket price for every 1862 quarter — mint, finish and grade each move the needle.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter
The quickest way to start figuring out what you have is to upload clear photos of both sides of your coin. Front and back images let us provide a preliminary identification of the mint, version and approximate condition.
That is not a substitute for professional certification, but it points you in the right direction fast.
1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- 1862-S quarter: USA Coin Book estimates $9,341.00 at MS63, making the San Francisco mint issue the standout for this date in high grade.
- 1862 Proof: Guide estimate of $1,453.00 at PR63 — a low-mintage collector finish struck only at Philadelphia.
- 1862 Philadelphia business strike: Estimated at $938.00 in MS63, far more affordable in lower grades starting around $46.00 at G4.
Step 1: Identify Your 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Mint Mark and Version
All 1862 quarters are 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.22 grams. The design features a seated Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse without the "IN GOD WE TRUST" motto above the eagle (that motto was added in 1866).
Philadelphia-struck coins carry no mintmark. San Francisco coins show a small "S" on the reverse beneath the eagle.
Those are the only two mints for this year's business strikes.
To separate a proof from a business strike, look for deeply mirrored fields and sharply squared rims on the Philadelphia issue. A shiny, polished coin is not the same thing as a proof — proofs were manufactured with a distinct process using specially prepared dies and planchets.
Only Philadelphia produced proofs in 1862.
Three versions exist for this date: the 1862 Philadelphia business strike, the 1862 Proof and the 1862-S. Confirm which one you hold before comparing prices, because the value gap between them is substantial.
Step 2: Check Your 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Grade
Start with Liberty's head, breast, knee and the horizontal lines of the shield on the obverse. On the reverse, check the eagle's breast feathers and the tops of the wings.
These are the high points where wear shows first.
A coin in Good (G4) condition will have a visible outline of Liberty but most interior detail will be worn smooth. At Mint State (MS60), there should be no wear at all, though bag marks and contact marks are expected.
MS63 adds better eye appeal with fewer distracting marks.
Compare your coin against the reference image for this type. Keep in mind that a weak strike — common on San Francisco issues — can leave soft detail on an otherwise unworn coin, so do not confuse strike weakness with actual wear.
Cleaned coins are a separate problem. If the surfaces look unnaturally bright or show fine hairlines under light, the coin has likely been cleaned, and that lowers its collector value regardless of the remaining detail.
Step 3: Check 1862 Liberty Seated Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1862 Liberty Seated Quarter
The 1862 Philadelphia business strike has no mintmark. Look for a clean reverse field beneath the eagle — no letter at all.
This is the most available version of the three for this date.
USA Coin Book estimates place this coin at about $46.00 in G4, $536.00 at MS60 and $938.00 at MS63. Circulated examples are relatively affordable, but original uncleaned surfaces still matter.
A worn coin with honest gray toning will generally be preferred over one that has been scrubbed bright.
Coin Value Lookup is a good starting point if you want to look up guides for other dates or denominations in the Liberty Seated Quarter series.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
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VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1862 Liberty Seated Quarter — PR
The 1862 Proof was a special striking produced at Philadelphia for collectors. These coins were not made for circulation, and their surfaces should show deep, mirror-like fields with sharp, frosted design elements when well preserved.
No mintmark appears on the proof, same as the Philadelphia business strike, so you must evaluate the surface quality to distinguish the two. Hairlines from improper handling and any haze from storage will affect the grade and value.
USA Coin Book estimates $1,453.00 at PR63 for this issue. A shiny regular-strike coin is not a proof — the manufacturing process is entirely different, and certification by a major grading service is the safest way to confirm proof status.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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1862 Liberty Seated Quarter — S
The 1862-S carries an "S" mintmark on the reverse below the eagle. San Francisco quarters from the Civil War era tend to be scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts, and this date is no exception in higher grades.
USA Coin Book estimates start at $258.00 in G4 — already more than five times the Philadelphia business strike at the same grade. At MS60 the estimate jumps to $5,228.00, and MS63 examples are listed at $9,341.00.
Those upper figures reflect genuine scarcity in uncirculated condition.
Be aware that San Francisco strikes can come with softer central detail. That softness is a strike characteristic, not wear, so compare carefully before downgrading the coin's condition.
Original surfaces with no evidence of cleaning are critical to reaching those higher valuations.
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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G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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