Seated Liberty Half Dollar

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar is a widely collected U.S. coin which was first issued in 1839 and minted continually until 1891. These coins are notable for the design of Miss Liberty perched on the obverse of the coin, wearing a flowing robe and seated atop a rock with a shield beside her and a Phrygian cap in her hand. The reverse of the coin features a Heraldic Eagle with its wings outstretched, with a shield on its chest and arrows and olive branch in its talons.

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar was designed by Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht and was the first silver dime, quarter and half dollar to which Congress had given a specific design. The coin was minted in several different compositions including 90% silver, 75% copper and 25% nickel, and 90% copper and 10% nickel. In addition, the Mint in San Francisco, CA began minting silver coins in the nickle alloy composition in 1853.

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar was issued only in the Philadelphia, PA mint, and the coin was minted only in the 19-21 cent range for grading purposes by the Professional Coin Grading Service. Some coins are also known to have been made with a reeded edge, but this feature was not popular and the mint reverted back to a plain edge format. The mint also made coins with a variety of reverse designs from the 1839 issue to the 1891 issue.

The obverse of the seated liberty half dollar design depicts Miss Liberty in various poses, sitting on a rock, with a shield beside her, a Phrygian cap in her left hand and a staff in her right. Above the design are stars to represent the first thirteen colonies, with the words “United States of America” inscribed around the upper portion of the coin’s edge.

The reverse of the coin features a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, with a shield on its chest and olive branch and arrows in its talons. Above the eagle is a banner inscribed with the phrase “E Pluribus Unum.” The date is inscribed at the bottom of the coin’s reverse.

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar is a widely collected U.S. coin with a rich history and an interesting design. These coins are highly collectible and are sought after by both numismatists and casual collectors alike. Many of the coins in higher grades have been professionally graded and authenticated, making them desirable for collectors.