1873 No Arrows Proof

The 1873 No Arrows Proof is the early-1873 Philadelphia Proof delivery struck before the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 raised the quarter weight standard from 6.22 grams to 6.25 grams and added arrows at the date to mark the change. The 1873 production year split into two Proof issues: the No Arrows piece, struck on the old 6.22-gram standard during January and early February, and the Arrows piece struck after the legislation. Recorded Proof mintage for the No Arrows variant is approximately 600 pieces. The split-year context gives the 1873 a dual-Proof structure that few Seated quarter years share, and date set builders working the Proof series typically acquire both varieties to capture the transition. The figure shown on the catalog page reflects circulation output for the year; the actual No Arrows Proof figure is around 600 pieces.

Strike and authentication diagnostics turn on separating the two 1873 Proofs. Brilliant Proof striking on the No Arrows dies shows fully mirrored fields, sharp denticles, and squared rims, with Liberty's head and the eagle's feathers at full strike depth. The diagnostic against the Arrows piece is the date area: the No Arrows shows the date sitting clean below Liberty without flanking arrows. Subdivision within the No Arrows itself includes Closed 3 and Open 3 logotype varieties on the third digit of the date, and PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC, the Numismatic Guaranty Company, designate both. Weight should fall near 6.22 grams under the pre-Act standard; weight above 6.24 grams indicates an Arrows piece. The reverse should show "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the banner above the eagle. Cameo contrast appears with reasonable regularity on the delivery and reads as a clear premium attribute when awarded.

Market position carries both the modest mintage and the transition-year context. With Motto type-set builders, Seated quarter Proof date set collectors, and transition-year specialists draw on the same supply pool, and attractive PR64 to PR66 examples trade at firm levels. Cameo examples step up a tier in price, and Deep Cameo from the year is a stand-alone purchase. The Closed 3 and Open 3 sub-varieties create an additional layer of collector specialization, with Closed 3 examples typically scarcer than Open 3 in Proof grades. Original cabinet toning beats brightened surfaces head to head, and 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.