1853 25C Arrows and Rays (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Seated Quarters 1838-1891
PCGS MS67
PCGS MS67
PCGS MS66
- PCGS #:
- 5426
- Designer:
- Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 24.30 millimeters
- Weight:
- 6.20 grams
- Mintage:
- 15,210,020
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $80,500 • MS67 • 02-13-2008 • Heritage Auctions
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 5,000 |
| 60 or Better | 700 |
| 65 or Better | 35 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-4.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-5.6 |
| 65 or Better | R-8.8 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 3 / 3 |
| 60 or Better | 3 / 3 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 3 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 110 / 114 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 104 / 114 |
| 65 or Better | 63 / 114 |
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS67 PCGS grade
Bob R. Simpson Collection |
| #1 MS67 PCGS grade |
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
Superior 7/2005:1019, $32,200 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I - Heritage 6/2014:30371, $35,250 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 7/2017:168, not sold - Heritage 12/2017:3065, $28,800 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 5/2018:505, $36,425 - D.L. Hansen Collection |
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
James Swan US Type Collection - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5022, $21,150 - The Type Set Collection (Oliver Jung) (PCGS Set Registry) - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 9/2019:228, $21,150 - Heritage 1/2020:4163, not sold |
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection, Part II - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1980:659, $35,000 |
|
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1980:659, $35,000 |
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
|
|
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
|
|
#3 MS66 PCGS grade
Stack's/Bowers 3/2012:4073, $27,600 |
| #3 MS66 PCGS grade |
Why were arrowheads and rays added to the 1853 Quarter Dollar? To signify a reduction in the weight of the coin. This was a time when silver coins were required to contain their full value in metal. Also, this was the first time that the silver content of the Quarter Dollar had been reduced since its inception in 1796! The result of the reduction in weight was that all of the silver quarter dollars struck prior to the weight change became worth more than their face value. Any quarter dollars without Arrows and Rays would be instantly noticeable in circulation and could be pulled and melted. The massive mintage of 1853 quarter dollars resulted from the conversion of older silver coins. For coin collectors, this means that mintage figures for all pre-1853 quarter dollars are meaningless and their respective survival rates are low.