1867 Proof

The 1867 Proof is the second year of the With Motto subtype for the Seated quarter Proof series, with mintage recorded at approximately 625 pieces. The figure represents a modest pullback from the 1866 inaugural-subtype delivery as the first-year demand surge eased, and the Proof program settled into the production cadence that would carry through to the 1873 Arrows transition. Circulation production at Philadelphia for the year stayed low at 20,625 quarters, one of the smallest circulation runs of the entire Seated series, which adds an extra layer of overall date scarcity to a Proof issue that is already among the harder With Motto pieces to acquire in original condition. The figure shown on the catalog page reflects circulation output for the year; the actual Proof figure is around 625 pieces.

Strike and authentication diagnostics follow the established With Motto pattern. Brilliant Proof striking shows fully mirrored fields, sharp denticles, and squared rims, with Liberty's head, the shield lines, and the eagle's leg feathers at full strike depth. The reverse should show "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the banner above the eagle in sharp raised letters, and weight should fall near 6.22 grams under the Coinage Act of February 21, 1853 standard. Cameo contrast on the 1867 delivery sits between the early Proof window scarcity and the deeper cameo work of the late 1870s; PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC, the Numismatic Guaranty Company, award CAM with reasonable regularity on examples that retained original surfaces. Deep Cameo from the year is scarce. Hairlines from old cleaning remain the leading cause of grade compression, since many specimens spent decades in unsealed cabinet trays before encapsulation became routine.

Market position is firm. With Motto type-set builders, Seated quarter Proof date set collectors, and post-Civil War silver Proof specialists draw on the same supply pool. The combined population of attractive PR64 to PR66 examples is thinner than the 625-piece figure would suggest because of cleaning and post-strike handling losses over the decades, and original cabinet-toned pieces consistently outperform brightened surfaces in head-to-head bidding. Cameo examples bring real premiums, and Deep Cameo is a stand-alone purchase. The combination of low Proof delivery and the extremely low circulation production for the year keeps the issue on the radar of cross-collector buyers chasing the entire 1867 date rather than only the Proof slot. Certification through a major grading service is the working baseline. For the broader story of Gobrecht's design and the series' proof program, see the Seated Liberty Quarter series history.