Liberty Seated Half Dollars (1839-1891)
The Liberty Seated Half Dollar was struck for over fifty years, from 1839 through 1891, making it one of the longest-running coin designs in U.S. history. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, it depicts Liberty seated on a rock holding a shield and liberty pole. The reverse features an eagle with arrows and olive branch. These coins circulated heavily across America during a period that included westward expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, giving them enormous historical significance.
Design Changes
Over its long lifespan, the Liberty Seated Half Dollar underwent several modifications, which give collectors natural subtypes to pursue:
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1839–1853 (No Motto, No Arrows): Original design, relatively low mintages.
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1853–1855 (Arrows and Rays): Small arrows at the date and rays around the eagle, added when weight was reduced to adjust for silver prices. Rays were dropped after 1853.
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1856–1866 (No Motto, With Arrows at Date in 1856–57 only): Rays removed, arrows continued briefly. Most coins in this span have no motto.
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1866–1891 (With Motto): “IN GOD WE TRUST” was added above the eagle following the Civil War, completing the final subtype of the series.
Collector Appeal
Liberty Seated Half Dollars offer depth for both type and date collectors. Type collectors enjoy the numerous subtype variations (No Motto, Arrows, Rays, With Motto), while advanced collectors pursue complete date-and-mint sets, which is a challenging and expensive endeavor. With heavy circulation and melting over the decades, Mint State coins are scarce across the series, and proofs from the 19th century are especially prized for their rarity and beauty.