Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

Christian Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty design was adopted for U.S. silver dollars in 1836; in 1839, the half dollar became the last silver denomination to use it. The coin’s obverse features a full portrait of Lady Liberty seated on a stone, with a heraldic shield marked “Liberty” in her right hand and a pole with a liberty cap on the top in her left. The reverse depicts an eagle similar to that on earlier half dollars.

Seated Liberty half dollars were issued from 1839 to 1891 and went through several variati...

An even bigger change was introduced in 1853. Because of the sudden increase in the supply of gold thanks to the California Gold Rush, the price of silver compared to that of gold rose dramatically—gold was now less scarce and less valuable. As a result, more and more people were hoarding silver coins and melting them down because their silver content was now worth more than the face value of the coin itself. America faced a shortage of change as coins disappeared from circulation.

To combat this trend, Mint Director George N. Eckert proposed a plan that Congress passed on February 21, 1853. This action reduced the weight of half dollars from 206 ¼ grains to 192 grains: if the coins were lighter (and had less silver), their precious metal content would not be worth more than their face value, which would discourage the hoarding of coins and their destruction.

To indicate the reduced metal content without having to design a new coin, the Mint added two arrows around the date on the obverse, plus rays around the eagle on the reverse. These rays were discontinued in 1854 because the design took too long and cost too much to mint; the arrows were discontinued in 1855. In 1856, half dollars returned to their original Seated Liberty design but maintained their new lighter weight.

A decade later, in 1866, Congress added the motto “In God We Trust” to the reverse in a ribbon above the eagle. This motto first appeared two years earlier on two-cent coins as a result of increased religious fervor during the Civil War, and it would become more and more common on U.S. coins as the years passed.

In 1873 and 1874, Seated Liberty coins again included arrows around the obverse date, this time to indicate an increase in weight from 192 grains to 192.9 grains. Rays were not added. From 1875 to 1891, the Mint returned to the variation introduced in 1866. In 1892, Charles Barber’s new half dollar coin design replaced Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all 50c Seated Liberty Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

An Interview with Liberty Seated Dime Collector and Author Gerry Fortin

Like everybody else, I started collecting coins when I was probably around 10 years old—going to the bank, buying a roll of Lincol… [more]

An Interview With U.S. Pattern Coin Collector Andy Lustig

I started collecting coins when I was five years old, and I started dealing when I was 13 or 14. Most kids start with coins of cir… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Legendary Coins and Currency

Legendary Coins and Currency

This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is a great way to get an overview… [read review or visit site]

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors

Home to the Society of U.S. Pattern collectors, this well-organized site provides in-depth information on pattern c… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: US Coins

Discussion Forums: US Coins

Other Great Reference Sites: US Coins

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 210 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
1874 Cc Half Dollar Rare Low Mintage---nice!!!!!1870 Ngc Seated Liberty Half Dollar "proof" Ngc Pf-64 ** Ultra Rare!!!1879 Seated Liberty Half Dollar "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Spectacular Proof!!!1887 50c Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Rare Date, Only 5,710 Minted, Xf++ Details1876 Pcgs Seated Liberty Half Dollar "proof" Pr-62 ** Ultra Rare!!!1850 Seated Liberty Half Dollar Monster Toning On Both Sides!! An Amazing Coin!1846-o Wb-23 Tall Date Liberty Seated Half, Old Anacs Vf-20, Choice!(estatesale)1859 O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Ms Series Key Date Difficult New Orleans Issue1850-p Seated Half Dollar Vg Detail Original Patina1861 Seated Liberty Half Dollar Choice Bu ** Tough Coin!!!1872-cc Nice Pcgs High Grade Seated Half Dollar!1861-o Half Dollar Ss Republc. Shipwreck Effect.ngc1853 Liberty Seated Half $ Appealin Very Scarce Sharp Beauty High Quality Noresv1854-o Seated Half Arrows Pcgs Au501888 50c Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Xf, Lustrous1869 Pcgs Seated Liberty Half Dollar Pcgs Au-55 ** Nice Au Survivor!!!1867-p Seated Half Dollar Au Detail Nice Strike Still Shows Decent Color1875-s Seated Half Pcgs Au501861-o Half Dollar Ss Republc. Shipwreck Effect.ngc1856-o Seated Liberty Half Pcgs Au 551858-o Liberty Seated Silver Half Dollar1872-cc Seated Liberty Half Graded Pcgs G4. Low Grade But No Damage Or Marks1875-cc Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Carson City, Xf Details1858-o Seated Liberty Half Au55- Anacs Certified- Slight Toning Obv & Rev Sides1842 Medium Date Seated Liberty Half Dollar 50c Ngc1855 Silver Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Arrows, Pcgs Graded Xf45!!1853-p Half Dollar Arrows & Rays Ss Republc. Shipwreck Effect.ngc1875 Silver Seated Half Dollar Free S/h!!1869 1923 1935 1935-e Us Dollar (gold And Silver Certificate) RareExcellent Key Date And Mint 1875 Cc U.s. Silver Seated Liberty Half Dollar1876 S Seated Liberty Half Dollar Near Gem Bu++ ** Great Date!!!Toned Rare Ngc Xf-45 Mpd 1858-o Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar ~ Must See!!1858 Seated Liberty Half Dollar ~ Very Fine ~ Natural Surfaces* 1926-p Oregon Trail Commemorative Half Dollar Coin-mintage Only 47,955! * V155Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1853 Arrows & Rays Vf 25 Ngc No ReserveSeated Half: 1841 Philadelphia Mint Scarce 1859-o Silver Seated Half Dollar Free ShippingToned Rare Ngc Vf-25 1856/1856-o Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar ~ Must See!!1858 Seated Liberty Half With Au++ Spectacular Details And Colorful Toning- Wow1868 S Seated Liberty Half Dollar Xf Nr 1859-s Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Original Vg1865 S Liberty Seated Half Dollar Us Coins Silver1861 Seated Liberty Half Dollar! Full Shield &liberty! Au Condition! Nr!1839 Seated Liberty Half Dollar, With Drapery, Original Fine1858 O Seated Half Dollar 50c Ngc1879 Seated Liberty Quarter In Very Fine Condition1858-o Xf Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar - Nr! Must See!1873-s Seated Liberty Half Dollar Id#j216 -no Reserve-1840 Seated Liberty Half Dollar Vf-xf Nr 1853 (with Arrows) Seated Liberty Half1867 S Liberty Seated Half Dollar Us Coins Silver1866 S With Motto Seated Liberty Half Dollar Xf Detail Nr {hd} 1861 O Silver Seated Half Dollar Vg Condition1840 - Seated Half Dollar - Ngc Vf Details - Small Letters1842-o Seated Half Dollar G/vg Detail Original Patina1843 Silver Seated Half Dollar Free Shipping1845-o Silver Seated Half Dollar Free S/h!!1870 - P United States Liberty Seated Half Dollar $1/2 Silver Coin Nr1870 - S United States Liberty Seated Half Dollar $1/2 Silver Coin Nr1876 Xf+ Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar - No Reserve!
»» Get our weekly Seated Liberty Half Dollars email



Right now on eBay