1861 United States 1/4 Dollar Value
Expect a 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar to trade between about $5.76 and $62.17, driven almost entirely by grade; the melt floor under every example is $5.76 (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 silver standard.
1861 United States 1/4 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $5.76 |
| Good (G-4) | $5.76 to $6.91 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $5.76 to $7.11 |
| Fine (F-12) | $5.76 to $7.46 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $5.76 to $7.94 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $6.36 to $8.98 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $7.83 to $11.05 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $10.76 to $15.20 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $17.12 to $24.18 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $44.03 to $62.17 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Today's value of the 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar starts around $5.76. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $62.17. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1861 United States 1/4 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1861
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 5.45 g
- Diameter
- 24 mm
- Silver content
- 0.15770 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (varies by series) is simply blank.
What makes the 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Every 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar contains 0.1577 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $5.76. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
There is history in a 1861 United States Coinage as well. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1861 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 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar specimens
9 physically measured 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5.45 g, 24 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #1 | 5.45 g | 24 mm | - | Judd.275, Adams.Woodin.351, Pollock.324 |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #2 | 5.46 g | 25 mm | 7 h | Breen.4030 |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #3 | 4.492 g | 24 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | - |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #6 | 4.52 g | 24 mm | 3 h | Breen.4030 (fake) |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #7 | 8.423 g | 25.7 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #8 | 5.579 g | 24 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar #9 | 4.64 g | 23.8 mm | 6 h | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1861 United States 1/4 Dollar is valued between $5.76 and $62.17 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.