Liberty Seated Dollar (1836-1873)

The Liberty Seated Dollar was a silver coin that was minted in the United States from 1840 to 1873. It featured a design known as the Liberty Seated motif, which depicted the figure of Liberty seated on a rock holding a shield in one hand and a staff with a liberty cap in the other.

The Liberty Seated Dollar was introduced to replace the earlier Gobrecht Dollar, which had been minted in limited quantities from 1836 to 1839. The design for the Liberty Seated Dollar was created by Christian Gobrecht, who was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint at the time.

There were several different variations of the Liberty Seated Dollar throughout its production period. The initial design, known as the "No Stars" variety, featured no stars on the obverse (front) of the coin. This design was used from 1840 to 1843. In 1844, stars were added to the obverse, and the design continued to evolve over the years.

One of the most significant changes to the Liberty Seated Dollar design occurred in 1866 when the motto "In God We Trust" was added to the reverse (back) of the coin. This addition was made in response to increased religious sentiment during the Civil War.

The Liberty Seated Dollar saw limited circulation during its early years due to a lack of public trust in paper money and the availability of gold coins. However, as the silver mining industry expanded in the western United States, the coin became more widely circulated.

In 1873, the Coinage Act of 1873 was passed, which effectively ended the production of the Liberty Seated Dollar. The act discontinued the free coinage of silver and shifted the United States to a gold standard. This transition led to the discontinuation of several silver coin denominations, including the Liberty Seated Dollar.

The Liberty Seated Dollar holds historical significance not only as a form of currency but also as a reflection of the political and economic climate of the time. Today, these coins are highly sought after by collectors and numismatists for their historical value and artistic beauty.

Key Dates

1844-O: The 1844-O (New Orleans Mint) Liberty Seated Dollar is considered one of the most desirable and rarest dates in the series. Only 160,000 coins were minted, and surviving specimens are scarce.

1851: The 1851 Liberty Seated Dollar is a low mintage date with only 1,300 coins minted. It is highly sought after by collectors and can be quite valuable.

1852: The 1852 Liberty Seated Dollar is another low mintage date, with only 1,100 coins minted. It is a key date in the series and is highly sought after.

1858-S: The 1858-S (San Francisco Mint) Liberty Seated Dollar is a scarce and valuable date. It has a relatively low mintage of 121,500 coins, and surviving specimens are rare.

1859-O: The 1859-O (New Orleans Mint) Liberty Seated Dollar is a key date with a low mintage of 360,000 coins. It is sought after by collectors and can command a premium.

1870-CC: The 1870-CC (Carson City Mint) Liberty Seated Dollar is one of the most famous and rarest dates in the series. Only 11,758 coins were minted, and surviving examples are highly coveted by collectors.