Semi-Numismatic

1857 Liberty Seated Quarter Good

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In 1857, the United States Mint in Philadelphia produced a silver quarter that captures the artistic spirit of pre-Civil War America. Struck in 90% fine silver with a precious metal weight of 0.1788 troy ounces, this twenty-five cent piece represents a long-running era of American coinage design known as the Liberty Seated series. The obverse of the coin features a detailed depiction of Lady Liberty resting upon a rock. Facing to her right, she holds a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, a classic symbol of freedom. Surrounding her figure are thirteen stars, representing the original colonies that formed the nation. The year 1857 is inscribed at the very bottom of the coin's face. On the reverse, a powerful eagle is shown facing left. The bird bears a protective shield on its chest while grasping symbols of both peace and defense, holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other. This classic design was created by Christian Gobrecht, whose work defined the look of United States silver coinage for much of the nineteenth century.