1854 United States 1/4 Dollar Value
Expect a 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar to trade between about $26.16 and $283, driven almost entirely by grade; the melt floor under every example is $26.16 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 gold standard.
1854 United States 1/4 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $26.16 |
| Good (G-4) | $26.16 to $31.40 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $26.16 to $32.34 |
| Fine (F-12) | $26.16 to $33.91 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $26.16 to $36.11 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $28.91 to $40.82 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $35.58 to $50.23 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $48.93 to $69.07 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $77.84 to $110 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $200 to $283 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar starts around $26.16. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $283. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1854 United States 1/4 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1854
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 0.27 g
- Diameter
- 9 mm
- Gold content
- 0.00781 troy oz
Why there is no letter on this coin
Philadelphia struck the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (see the series guide) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
Why the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar is worth money
The gold inside a 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar, 0.0078 troy ounces, currently $26.16, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1854 United States 1/4 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* (date)
Liberty seated
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; QUAR. DOL.
eagle, wings spread, shield on breast
Measured 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar specimens
8 physically measured 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 0.27 g, 9 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #1 | 0.268 g | 9 mm | - | Burnie.9, Breen-Gillio.105, Breen.7824 |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #2 | 0.27 g | 9 mm | - | Burnie.9, Breen-Gillio.105, Breen.7824 |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #3 | 0.27 g | 9 mm | - | Burnie.9, Breen-Gillio.105, Breen.7824 |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | - |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #6 | 4.39 g | 25 mm | - | Breen.3994 |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #7 | 4.433 g | 24 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar #8 | 4.912 g | 24 mm | 6 h | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1854 United States 1/4 Dollar is valued between $26.16 and $283 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.