Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1815-1838
Number of Types: 2
Mints: Philadelphia
Composition: 0.8924 silver, 0.1076 copper
Diameter: 27 mm 1815-1828, 24.3 mm 1831-1838
Weight: 6.74 grams (0.1935 ounces of silver)
Total Mintage: approx. 5,496,984
Edge: reeded
Introduction
Designed by John Reich and later re-designed by William Kneass in 1831, the quarter had a composition of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper.
The obverse design depicts an idealized head of Liberty facing left, her hair covered by a cloth cap with a band inscribed LIBERTY. Her neckline is draped with a gown, secured with a brooch at the shoulder. Seven stars are to the left and six to the right (13 stars were representative of the original 13 states of the Union).
The reverse design features an eagle with the shield on its breast, perched on a branch and holding arrows, with E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll above, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the outer periphery and 25 C located just below the eagles claws. There are no mint marks as the Philadelphia mint was the only mint during that time period so there were was no need.
Types
Type 1 Large Diameter - 1815 to 1828 coins had a diameter of 27mm
Type 2 Small Diameter - 1831 to 1838 coins were reduced to a smaller diameter of 24.3mm and sported a refined image of Lady Liberty on the obverse designed by William Kneass.
General Market Notes
The Capped Bust is readily available to most collectors and typically can be found in the collector grades of G to VF and are affordable for most collectors. Higher grades of XF to BU are more difficult to locate and their price premium is reflective of that.
For collectors on a small limited budget you will probably want to limit yourself to a grade of Good to Very Good.
Excluding errors and over-dates, there are no specific keys to the series meaning that almost the entire series a sleeper.