This 1855 Quarter is Worth Over $20,000 | CoinWeek

The year is 1855. A nation on the brink. While the United States was experiencing a period of significant economic and industrial growth, particularly in the North, it was also a country deeply divided. The political climate was growing more hostile by the day, with arguments over slavery pushing the nation closer and closer to civil war.

Look closely at the date. See the arrows? These weren't just a decorative flourish. They were a signal. A final farewell to a chapter in American numismatic history. 1855 was the last year the U.S. Mint added these arrows, a clear indicator of the 1853 weight change in our silver coins.

This change was more than just a matter of metal. It was a matter of economics. Thanks to a principle known as Gresham's Law, most silver coins struck at the old, heavier weight were either exchanged or melted down for their silver content.

While demand for circulating quarters remained high, the real story for collectors was unfolding on the Proof side. A burgeoning community of coin enthusiasts was beginning to take shape. But their interests were…selective. They were drawn to copper coins, and, perhaps surprisingly, the silver dollar.

For other denominations, like this quarter, estimated Proof mintages often fell below a mere 20 coins. The 1855 Seated Liberty Quarter Proof is popularly believed to have a mintage of exactly that number: 20. A stunningly low figure that makes any surviving example a true rarity.

But even within this exclusive group, there's a coin that commands even more attention. A unique branch mint Proof struck in that same year, far away from Philadelphia, in San Francisco. A coin that rightfully steals the spotlight whenever it emerges from the shadows of history.

This particular coin you see before you is graded NGC PF65CAM. It's a breathtaking example of numismatic artistry, with its pristine fields and frosted devices.

And speaking of interesting stories... In 2011, an unusual tale surfaced in the pages of Coin World magazine. Delaware Valley Rare Coins advertised an original set of coins, including an 1855 quarter, that had been held for over a century in the cornerstone of a Philadelphia church. These coins were graded NGC PF65.

This particular coin is a different one. The church cornerstone coin's certification number is no longer active, and its photographic record is lost to time, making it impossible to match it to any surviving coins.

A numismatic ghost, lost to history. But a reminder of the endless stories and incredible secrets that can be found in a single piece of metal. The 1855 Proof Quarter: a rare treasure from a nation on the cusp of its most defining conflict.

Learn more about this coin and its value by visiting CoinWeek's Coin Profile: https://coinweek.com/1855-liberty-sea...