1853 25C Arrows and Rays AU50 Certification #40546286, PCGS #5426

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

Why were arrowheads and rays added to the 1853 Quarter Dollar? To signify a reduction in the weight of the coin. This was a time when silver coins were required to contain their full value in metal. Also, this was the first time that the silver content of the Quarter Dollar had been reduced since its inception in 1796! The result of the reduction in weight was that all of the silver quarter dollars struck prior to the weight change became worth more than their face value. Any quarter dollars without Arrows and Rays would be instantly noticeable in circulation and could be pulled and melted. The massive mintage of 1853 quarter dollars resulted from the conversion of older silver coins. For coin collectors, this means that mintage figures for all pre-1853 quarter dollars are meaningless and their respective survival rates are low.

PCGS #

5426

Designer

Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

24.30 millimeters

Weight

6.20 grams

Mintage

15210020

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

918

Pop Lower

1556

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	5000	R-4.0	3 / 3	110 / 114 TIE
All Grades	700	R-5.6	3 / 3	104 / 114
60 or Better	35	R-8.8	1 / 3	63 / 114

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	5000
All Grades	700
60 or Better	35

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-4.0
All Grades	R-5.6
60 or Better	R-8.8

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	3 / 3
All Grades	3 / 3
60 or Better	1 / 3

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	110 / 114 TIE
All Grades	104 / 114
60 or Better	63 / 114

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade	Bob R. Simpson Collection
1	MS67 PCGS grade
3	MS66 PCGS grade	Superior 7/2005:1019, $32,200 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I - Heritage 6/2014:30371, $35,250 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 7/2017:168, not sold - Heritage 12/2017:3065, $28,800 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 5/2018:505, $36,425 - D.L. Hansen Collection
3	MS66 PCGS grade	James Swan US Type Collection - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5022, $21,150 - The Type Set Collection (Oliver Jung) (PCGS Set Registry) - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 9/2019:228, $21,150 - Heritage 1/2020:4163, not sold
3	MS66 PCGS grade	John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection, Part II - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1980:659, $35,000

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

Bob R. Simpson Collection

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

#3 MS66 PCGS grade

Superior 7/2005:1019, $32,200 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I - Heritage 6/2014:30371, $35,250 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 7/2017:168, not sold - Heritage 12/2017:3065, $28,800 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 5/2018:505, $36,425 - D.L. Hansen Collection

#3 MS66 PCGS grade

James Swan US Type Collection - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5022, $21,150 - The Type Set Collection (Oliver Jung) (PCGS Set Registry) - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 9/2019:228, $21,150 - Heritage 1/2020:4163, not sold

#3 MS66 PCGS grade

John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection, Part II - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1980:659, $35,000