Semi-Numismatic

1856 Liberty Seated Quarter Good

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The mid-nineteenth century was a transformative era for United States coinage, exemplified by the iconic Liberty Seated quarter. Minted in Philadelphia in 1856, this silver coin is composed of 90 percent silver, containing approximately 0.1788 troy ounces of precious metal. Having survived decades of circulation, this piece is graded in Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that actively passed through the hands of everyday Americans before the Civil War. The obverse side displays Liberty in a seated position, looking toward the left. In her hands, she supports a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, a traditional emblem of freedom. Surrounding her figure are thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, with the date 1856 anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, an American eagle faces left with a shield positioned over its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps an olive branch and three arrows, symbolizing a desire for peace alongside a readiness for defense. The inscriptions on this side include the issuing authority and the denomination, abbreviated as QUAR. DOL.