An exemplary Gem quarter dollar. The broadly sweeping cartwheel luster supports pale champagne-gold that deepens slightly at the rims, especially on the reverse. The strike is bold and sharp throughout with just a touch of lightness to one or two obverse stars. The eye appeal is superb, and the reverse appears nearly matte-like under low magnification. This specimen will definitely be a highlight in its next stewards cabinet.In 1873 the weights of dimes, quarters and half dollars were adjusted upward by a tiny fraction, from 6.22 to 6.25 grams in the case of the quarter dollar denomination. This uptick in weight amounted to just .03 grams, a tiny figure that made very little difference to the "average Joe" in America. Todays numismatists appreciate the associated design change of 1873 to 1874, however, and the Arrows coinage of those dates is eagerly sought by type collectors and quarter specialists alike. Branch mint issues, such as the 1874-S offered here, are the most popular with advanced collectors.