1868-S Liberty Seated Quarter. Briggs 1-A, the only known dies. MS-65 (NGC).This overall sharply struck quarter is dusted with light champagne-gold iridescence. A few swirls of slightly warmer russet patina are evident around the peripheries, especially at the lower right reverse border. The satiny surfaces are smooth, appealing and solidly in the Gem category.<p>The 1868-S is one in a lineup of distinguished rarities among early San Francisco Mint quarters. As with the other issues in this group, the rarity of the 1868-S is due to a combination of a low mintage and a heavy rate of circulation. Only 96,000 pieces were produced, virtually all of which entered commerce at the time of delivery and remained there until worn out or lost. The need for circulating coinage on the West Coast was certainly significant, but there was also essentially no numismatic demand for mintmarked coinage at the time and few contemporary Americans set aside an 1868-S quarter. We suspect that the few Mint State survivors known either survived by chance or represent Assay pieces that were not destroyed through the activities of the Commission. In any event, these are very rare, with Larry Briggs (1991) assigning a Rarity-6+ rating in Uncirculated condition. Among the finest certified and also the finest known, this impressive Gem will be a centerpiece in any numismatic cabinet.
