Canada was a young country in the late 19th century, developing the economic identity, being strongly connected with the British Empire. Of all the coins that were produced in the time, the 1887 Canadian quarter is a special one, not just as money but as an emblem of what the nation had become, what it was stable, and what it was proud of. It was struck in sterling silver and it turned out to be a reliable form of exchange and an enduring emblem of Victorian Canada.
The 1887 quarter still lingers in the way of the collector today. It is one of the most interesting works of numismatic history of Canada due to its design, rarity and value as an object made of precious metals. This blog unravels its story, why it was important in 1887 and why it is important in the present. To many people, it is not only money, but a physical connection to the Victorian past of Canada and changing the national identity.
Sterling Silver and Canadian Coinage Standards
Canadian coins minted between 1870 and 1901 were of small amounts in .925 sterling silver, the standard used in Britain. By this composition, the coins were 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper, and thus were both valuable and durable. Their high purity in silver also guaranteed them intrinsic value over the years, rendering them as much a store of value as a medium of exchange. To collectors of today, such composition in sterling is one of the reasons why Canadian silver coins of the Victorian era are so historically important in the numismatic market and so valuable.
To Canadians of the day, it was not only about the money but about the trust in sterling silver coinage. The value of a silver quarter had the intrinsic content that could not yet be equivalent to paper notes. That silver value to collectors is still an anchor value today, although the numismatic value of such a coin as the 1887 quarter far outweighs the melt value.
The Design of the 1887 Quarter
The obverse of the 1887 issue of the quarter bore on the depiction of the young head of Queen Victoria developed by Leonard Charles Wyon. The young age of the Queen was a symbol of the power, steadiness and royal affiliation, not to mention that it also appealed to the Canadians who were establishing their identity within British rule.
On the reverse, a simple wreath of maple leaves enclosed the denomination, reflecting the style used across the quarter Canadian coin series. The maple leaf-which would become the most widely known icon in Canadian history-was already beginning to take its position as a national symbol. The design was the message that addressed a young nation that has been walking a fine line between the colonial and its newly developing identity. It was an unobtrusive yet strong declaration that Canada was starting to develop a visual language of its own, one which would come to be the coins of its future generations.
Mintage and Circulation: Everyday Use in a Growing Economy
The 1887 quarter was minted at the Royal mint in London and exported across the Atlantic to be circulated in the Canadian provinces. As tens of thousands were struck, it was a common coin–common in markets and shops and wages in towns and in growing cities. This kind was common in its day, and few high-grade examples have been preserved, so that well-preserved pieces today are even more worthwhile than the everyday change they formerly represented.
However, these coins next to survive are way less than their initial mintage. Others were lost, melted, or shrunken by circulation. To collectors, such scarcity is especially satisfying when well-preserved specimens like the 1887 Canadian 25 cents are found, especially in higher grades. Survivors with a high grade have become a rarity these days not only demonstrating the skills of the Victorians but also fetching a lot of premium in the numismatic market.
Collector Interest and Rarity in the 1887 Canadian Quarter
Although the 1887 quarter is not the most rare Victorian Canadian coin, the age of the coin, its silver composition, and its role in daily trade makes it an interesting piece. It is available to a large number of collectors in circulated grades (typically costing $50-$150 CAD) and in excellent condition, and is also used in printing, but rarely in book or newspaper printing projects. More advanced or certified ones, though, may fetch several times as much, both because of their rarity, and because the collectors value quality preservation.
Values increase abruptly in higher grades, however. Certified examples of an Extremely Fine (XF) or higher can fetch prices between $300 and $700 CAD with prices reaching well above $2000 CAD in auctions. It is treasured by collectors as a cornerstone item to any Victorian Canadian silver set. Its age, purity of silver and comparative affordability in lower grades give it the attraction of both the experienced numismatist and the novice assembling a base Canadian collection.
Melt Value vs. Numismatic Value
The 1887 quarter has approximately 0.17 troy ounces of pure silver, made of.925 fine silver and 5.81 grams in weight. That in current silver prices puts its melt value at approximately %4-%5 USD. Its real market value is, of course, far greater than the value of the bullion–age, condition, and historical value all combine to make sure that a well-preserved specimen will fetch many times its melt value to the collector. It is part of what makes the coinage of the Victorian era in Canada so perennially appealing: this numismatic premiumism and intrinsic silver appeal.
But here is the true tale in its numismatic premium. The historical value, low survival rate, and demand by collectors makes the coin worth multiplied many times its silver content. Silver bullion may act as a hedge to investors, but to numismatists, such works as the 1887 quarter are much more attractive because of the mix of intrinsic and historical value they carry. Many collectors also diversify with Canadian silver dollars, another cornerstone of Canada’s numismatic legacy.
The Legacy of the 1887 Quarter for Canadian Numismatics
The reason why the 1887 quarter is more than a collectible is because it is an artifact of Canadian history. It is the transition between the first decades of Confederation and the 20th century, as it is a part of the Victorian coinage series, which both endures and evolves. Owning one of these coins is like owning a bit of the early history of Canada where every detail, the amount of silver used and the design, is representative of a nation building its own identity and at the same time as part of the imperial tradition.
To collectors, it is not just about silver to own one, but a part of Canada to contain in your hand. Designing through composition, it embodies the spirit of Victorian Canada: true to Britain yet gradually creating its route to independence and identity. Every coin is a little monument, connecting the present-day enthusiast with the years of formation of the nation and reminding us that history exists in the real world.
Collecting Tips and Where to Find Authentic 1887 Quarters
Due to its desirability, the 1887 quarter is occasionally counterfeited or changed the dates. It is strongly recommended that collectors buy certified coins graded by PCGS or NGC to be sure of genuine coins and their correct value. Certification not only defends the buyers against counterfeits, but it also increases the liquidity, as third party grading ensures that sellers and investors have confidence in the market.
The most reputable dealers of coins and traditional auction houses are the most reliable suppliers of high quality examples. Established dealers may have more extensive provenance, grading data, and appropriate provenance, which is important when investing in pre-modern objects such as the 1887 quarter. Collectorism is also an area where one should be very keen about the prices and use the references or numismatic guides to guide them on the right purchase.
Conclusion
The Canadian quarter of 1887 is one of the most significant coins of the Victorian era. It is made in sterling silver and this is the tale of a young nation who had to juggle its imperial associations as it prepared to grow its own economic identity. It was a handy coin of day-to-day business to the Canadians of the day. To us to-day it is a very real connection with the past; a piece of silver which has a monetary and a historical value.
Collectors value it not just for its silver content but for its scarcity, design, and symbolism. In circulated grades, it is available, whereas in higher grades it is an award of the serious numismatist, and can even command thousands at auction. Its dual value both as bullion and as history makes it a smart addition to any serious Canadian coin collection.
At B&W Coins, we feel that such coins as the 1887 quarter can be more than collectibles: they are legacies. They are a masterpiece, history and the eternal worth of silver. You are either starting your collection, or you want that elusive high grade with a meaning and a long-term value, then we are here to assist you in finding the coins that will give you both the sense and the long term value.
