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Seated Liberty Half Dollar (1839 - 1891)

Seated Liberty Half Dollar General Grading Standards
G4 Good - Scant rim. LIBERTY on shield worn off. Date and letters readable.
VG8 Very Good - Rim fairly defined, at least three letters in LIBERTY are evident.
F12 Fine - LIBERTY complete, but weak.
VF20 Very Fine - LIBERTY mostly sharp.
EF40 Extremely Fine - LIBERTY entirely sharp. Scroll edges and clasp distinct.
AU50 About Uncirculated - Slight trace of wear on Liberty's breast and knees, head, claws, and wing tops of eagle.
MS60 Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Light blemishes.
MS63 Select Uncirculated - Some distracting contact marks or blemishes in prime focal areas. Luster may be impaired.

Without Motto On Reverse (1839 - 1853)

Designer: Christian GobrechtWeight: 13.36 grams
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersEdge: Reeded
Content: 90% silver 10% copper 
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
18391,972,400About 5
18401,435,008About 10
1840-O855,1000
1841310,000About 10
1841-O401,0000
18422,012,764About 5
1842-O957,0000
18433,844,000About 10
1843-O2,268,0000
18441,766,000About 5
1844-O2,005,0000
1845589,000About 5
1845-O2,094,0000
18462,210,000About 20
1846-O2,304,0000
18471,156,000About 20
1847-O2,584,0000
1848580,000About 5
1848-O3,180,0000
18491,252,000About 10
1849-O2,310,0000
1850227,000About 5
1850-O2,456,0000
1851200,750About 5
1851-O402,0000
185277,130About 10
1852-O144,000About 5
1853-OAbout 50

With Arrowheads At Date And Rays On Reverse (1853)

1853 O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Obverse With Arrows and Rays Obverse  1853 O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Obverse With Arrows and Rays Reverse
Image Courtesy of CCF Numismatics
Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.44 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
18533,532,708About 10
1853-O1,328,0000

With Arrowheads At Date, Without Rays On Reverse (1854 - 1855)

1854 O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Obverse and Reverse
1854 O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Obverse and Reverse
Image Courtesy of Great Toning
Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.44 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
18542,982,000About 30
1854-O5,240,0000
1855759,500About 15
1855-O3,688,0000
1855-S129,9500

Original Design Resumed (1856 - 1866)

Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.44 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
1856938,000About 30
1856-O2,658,0000
1856-S211,0000
18571,988,000About 75
1857-O818,0000
1857-S158,0000
18584,226,000About 200
1858-O7,294,0000
1858-S476,0000
1859747,200800
1859-O2,834,0000
1859-S566,0000
1860302,7001,000
1860-O1,290,0000
1860-S472,0000
18612,887,4001,000
1861-O2,532,633About 5
1861-S939,5000
1862253,000550
1862-S1,352,0000
1863503,200460
1863-S916,0000
1864379,100470
1864-S658,0000
1865511,400500
1865-S675,0000
1866 Without Motto0Unique
1866-S Without Motto60,0000

With "In God We Trust" On Reverse (1866 - 1873)

1871 Seated Liberty Half Dollar Obverse and Reverse With Motto
Image Courtesy of CCF Numismatics
Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.44 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
1866 With Motto744,900725
1866-S With Motto994,0000
1867449,300625
1867-S1,196,0000
1868417,600600
1868-S1,160,0000
1869795,300600
1869-S656,0000
1870633,9001,000
1870-CC54,6170
1870-S1,004,0000
18711,203,600960
1871-CC153,9500
1871-S2,178,0000
1872880,600950
1872-CC257,0000
1872-S580,0000
1873 No Arrowheads801,200600
1873-CC No Arrowheads122,5000
1873-S No Arrowheads5,0000

With Arrowheads (1873 - 1874)

Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.5 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
18731,815,150550
1873-CC214,5600
1873-S228,0000
18742,359,600700
1874-CC59,0000
1874-S394,0000

With Motto Design Resumed (1875 - 1891)

Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 30.6 millimetersWeight: 12.44 grams
Content: 90% silver 10% copperEdge: Reeded
Year/ Mint MarkCirculation StrikesProof Strikes
18756,026,800700
1875-CC1,008,0000
1875-S3,200,0000
18768,418,0001,150
1876-CC1,956,0000
1876-S4,528,0000
18778,304,000510
1877-CC1,420,0000
1877-S5,356,0000
18781,377,600800
1878-CC62,0000
1878-S12,0000
18794,8001,100
18808,4001,355
188110,000975
18824,4001,100
18838,0001,039
18844,400875
18855,200930
18865,000886
18875,000710
188812,001832
188912,000711
189012,000590
1891200,000600

Mint Mark Legend:

Below the eagle on the reverse.

Mint MarkMintDate of Operation
NonePhiladelphia1793-present
ONew Orleans, LA1838-1861; 1879-1909
SSan Francisco, CA1854-1955; 1968-present
CCCarson City, NV1870-1893


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