Ron Guth:
In 1874, the Mint decided to continue using arrowheads on either side of the date to differentiate the new coins from the lower weight coins of 1873 and before. The mintage of the 1874 Quarter Dollar was just over a third of the previous year -- a dramatic drop to only 156,000 coins. Even with this small mintage, this date is readily available in most grades and does not even begin to command a premium until mid-range Mint State grades. Above MS64, the 1874 Quarter Dollar is rare, with only a few MS65s and even fewer MS66s. MS67 examples are exceedingly rare.
This date boasts a strong strike and frosty, sometimes brilliant luster.