Those Hard-to-find 1880s Seated Liberty Quarters and Half Dollars

10ofSwords

After having already assembled a year set of U.S. coins (cents through half dollars) dating back to 1890, now it's time for me to tackle the 1880s. But those quarters and half dollars from the 1880s have awfully low mintages.

Can anyone steer me to a place where I might find these coins - and for a reasonable price?

Thanks.

ernie11

I know where you can find some of them, at Gerry Fortin's website, the link is below. As for reasonable prices, you'll have to judge for yourself. I've often wanted to take up the challenge of doing exactly what you're doing, but it's a bit late in life for me to commit to that. My 1881 dime will have to suffice.

https://seateddimevarieties.com/ForSaleList.html

ricko

@10ofSwords... Welcome aboard.... You could begin by posting what you want on the BST right here. Lots of people deal there and no fees for selling/buying. Cheers, RickO

rhedden

Decide on the grade range you want first. These coins are expensive in circulated grades, but the prices don't get too much worse in Unc. grades up to MS64. They are not condition rarities.

In the quarters, the toughest ones to locate are 1886, followed by 1885 and 1881, followed by (1882, 1883, 1884, 1887 in some order). The 1879, 1880, 1888, 1889, and 1890 quarters are substantially easier to locate and might be overpriced relative to the others. You will not find an 1888 with fully struck stars. I have seen exactly one of them, and I believe it was in an MS68 holder. Anyway, there's some advice from a Seated quarter collector.

rec78

Check ebay and auction sites -a lot of them are there and you can get an idea of prices. They are around and no need to be in a rush to get one. Some slabbed and some raw.

Coinosaurus

These coins are overrated due to low mintage numbers. They were recognized as scarce at the time and survived in large proportions. The low-mintage branch mint pieces are more interesting. No one was collecting those at the time. In many cases the number of surviving uncs is in the single digits.

10ofSwords

This was due to the Bland-Allison Act, passed in 1878, which brought back the (Morgan) silver dollar - so everyone knew that the lesser post-1878 silver coins were going to be rare (even the dimes were rare in 1879, 1880 and 1881).

ElmerFusterpuck

I collect the halves and decent, circulated examples from this period are tough to find. Patience is a must for these coins!
Currently I have the 1880, 1883 (in MS), 1885, 1888, and 1889 in PCGS graded holders in XF-AU. You can throw in the 1879 and 1891 in this bunch too. The 1891 will be a bit easier than the others to find nice.

10ofSwords

Both of my parents died recently - my mother in October of last year and my father in January of this year. In about five months the will is going to be probated; both my older brother and I are certain to receive a six-figure inheritances. Then I will be able to purchase the 1887, 1888 and 1889 coins - so I do have plenty of time to find them.

2ndCharter

both my older brother and I are certain to receive a six-figure inheritances.

Where can I sign up for a deal like this? My parents died and left me squat. Everything I have I earned it on my own.

mr1931S

Can anyone steer me to a place where I might find these coins - and for a reasonable price?

Check with Brian Greer. He has quarters and halves from the 1880's in his inventory. Prices look to be very reasonable. Brian is a pleasure to do business with.

10ofSwords

How do I contact Brian?

rhedden

I would have agreed with @Coinosaurus a few years ago, when I had proofs in my Seated 25c for these dates, but I would not call the 1880s business strikes overrated any more after hunting them down the past three years. Take a coin like the 1886-P quarter, for example: 119 pieces have been seen by PCGS in all grades, which is comparable to the 1855-S quarter. The difference is that the 1886 is available in Unc., so it is not a condition rarity like 1855-S. The branch mint Seated coins have also increased dramatically in price, and they are no longer undervalued at all, IMHO.

10ofSwords

I'd agree that about $600 is "reasonable" for these coins.