Liberty Seated Half Dollar 1839—1891

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar is a coin that was issued by the United States Mint from 1839 to 1891. It features the image of Liberty seated on a rock on the obverse (front) and an eagle on the reverse (back). The design was created by Christian Gobrecht, who was the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar went through several design modifications and variations during its production years. Here's a brief overview of its history:

Introduction of the Design (1839): The Liberty Seated Half Dollar was first introduced in 1839, replacing the Capped Bust design that had been in use since 1807. The initial design featured a seated Liberty holding a shield with a liberty cap on a pole.

No Drapery (1839-1842): The first version of the design, known as "No Drapery," was produced from 1839 to 1842. Liberty was depicted seated without any drapery on her lower arm.

With Drapery (1842-1853): In 1842, the design was modified to include drapery hanging from Liberty's elbow, giving it a more realistic appearance. This version is known as the "With Drapery" type and was minted from 1842 to 1853.

Arrows at Date (1853-1855): In 1853, the Mint added arrows on both sides of the date to indicate a reduction in weight due to changes in the coin's silver content. This alteration was made to address the rising price of silver bullion. The arrows were removed in 1856.

Legend on the Obverse (1866-1873): From 1866 to 1873, the coin underwent another modification with the addition of the national motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" above the image of Liberty on the obverse.

Motto on Reverse (1866-1891): In 1866, the reverse of the coin was also modified to include the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above the eagle. Prior to this change, the reverse had only featured the eagle without any inscriptions.

Changes in Composition (1853-1873): During this period, the composition of the coin changed from the original 90% silver and 10% copper to 90% silver and 10% copper with a slight reduction in weight.

 

Key Dates

1839-O: The 1839-O (New Orleans) is the first year of issue for the Liberty Seated Half Dollar series and is highly sought after by collectors. It has a relatively low mintage and is quite rare.

1842-O Small Date: The 1842-O (New Orleans) Small Date variety is a scarce issue within the series. The Small Date variety is distinguished by a smaller-sized date compared to the more common Large Date variety.

1853-O No Arrows: In 1853, the Mint added arrows to the design to denote a weight reduction. However, a small number of Liberty Seated Half Dollars were struck at the New Orleans Mint without arrows, making them highly valuable and rare.

1854-S: The 1854-S (San Francisco) is a key date in the series due to its low mintage. It is one of the scarcest Liberty Seated Half Dollars, and examples in higher grades are particularly sought after.

1856-S: The 1856-S (San Francisco) is another low-mintage issue that is highly sought after. It is considered one of the key dates in the series.

1870-CC: The 1870-CC (Carson City) is an incredibly rare and valuable Liberty Seated Half Dollar. It has a very low mintage and is one of the most sought-after coins in the series.

1878-S: The 1878-S (San Francisco) is a key date due to its lower mintage compared to other years in the series. It is highly desired by collectors.