Seated Liberty Half Dollar
(1839 – 1891)

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar, often simply referred to as the Seated Half, is a wonderful coin to collect and represents the third major variety of the U.S. half dollar. First minted in 1839, it replaced the Capped Bust Half Dollar and remained in production until 1891. The new design was immediately popular with the public and collectors alike.

The obverse features Lady Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield in one hand and a pole topped with a liberty cap in the other. The reverse initially depicted a heraldic eagle with a shield on its chest, clutching arrows and an olive branch. The artistry, symbolism, and changes across the series have made the Seated Liberty Half Dollar one of the most intriguing U.S. coin types to study and collect.

Design Changes

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar underwent several notable design modifications throughout its production run:

• 1839–1853 (No Motto Above Eagle): Original design without motto. Coins minted from 1839–1840 feature a small eagle.

• 1853–1855 (Arrows and Rays): To mark a change in silver content, arrows were added beside the date and rays behind the eagle in 1853. The rays were removed after one year, but arrows remained until 1855.

• 1856–1865 (No Arrows): Design returned to original without arrows or rays.

• 1866–1873 (With Motto): The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” was added above the eagle starting in 1866.

• 1873–1874 (Arrows Again): Arrows added again beside the date to reflect another weight change.

• 1875–1891 (No Arrows): Final years of the design without arrows.

Value of the Seated Liberty Half

The premium on any Seated Liberty Half Dollar depends on several key factors:

• Year and Mint Mark

• Condition (Grade)

• Rarity and Mintage Figures

• Historical Significance (e.g., Civil War era coins)

These coins can range in value from around $20 in lower grades to several thousand dollars for key dates in higher grades. Coins from the Civil War era, particularly those from Southern mints like New Orleans, are particularly sought after.

Key Dates and Mint Combinations

Certain years and mint combinations are considered key dates, due to lower mintage or historical significance:

• 1853 Arrows and Rays – One-year type with unique design features.

• 1870-CC – Extremely rare with very low mintage; top-tier value in any condition.

• 1866 No Motto – Only struck before the addition of “IN GOD WE TRUST,” making it highly collectible.

• 1878-S – Lower mintage and often found in lower grades; harder to locate.

Valuation Chart

Values below are for coins in Good to Extremely Fine (XF) condition. High-grade or certified examples can sell for significantly more.

Note: Coins with mint marks like CC (Carson City), S (San Francisco), and O (New Orleans) are generally more valuable than their Philadelphia counterparts due to lower mintages and historical context.

Historical Context Year-by-Year

• 1839 – First year of the Seated Liberty design. The U.S. Mint introduced this new design to replace the previous Capped Bust design. The obverse features Liberty sitting on a rock, with a shield in her left hand and a liberty pole in her right.
  World Fact: Queen Victoria is crowned, marking the beginning of the Victorian era in Britain.

• 1840 – U.S. coinage sees some modifications, and the Seated Liberty design starts to settle into production.
  World Fact: The First Opium War ends with the Treaty of Nanking, which opens China to British trade.

• 1841 – A more streamlined approach to minting coins as the economy begins to grow.
  World Fact: The Great Famine begins in Ireland, leading to widespread suffering and mass emigration.

• 1842 – The design is firmly established, and mintages of Seated Liberty Half Dollars increase.
  World Fact: Charles Dickens publishes A Christmas Carol, becoming one of the most influential literary works of the 19th century.

• 1843 – Production continues at steady levels, though the country is still recovering from economic turmoil.
  World Fact: The Texas Revolution leads to the annexation of Texas by the U.S.

• 1844 – Mintage continues to rise as demand for coinage grows with the expanding U.S. economy.
  World Fact: James Polk is elected as the 11th President of the United States.

• 1845 – The U.S. Mint focuses more heavily on silver coinage as the nation approaches the Mexican-American War.
  World Fact: The Irish Potato Famine worsens, and over a million Irish immigrants flee to America.

• 1846 – Minting stabilizes and continues as the Seated Liberty design gains in popularity.
  World Fact: The Mexican-American War begins, shaping U.S. territory expansion.

• 1847 – More Seated Liberty Half Dollars are produced as the U.S. Mint tries to keep up with growing coin demand.
  World Fact: The California Gold Rush begins, leading to mass migration to the West.

• 1848 – Silver is in greater demand, and the U.S. Mint mints larger quantities of coins.
  World Fact: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War, and the U.S. acquires vast western territories.

• 1849 – The Seated Liberty Half Dollar becomes increasingly common, though still part of a rapidly growing coinage system.
  World Fact: The Gold Rush in California brings thousands to the West Coast.

• 1850 – Coin designs begin to stabilize, but economic growth leads to increased demand for coins.
  World Fact: The Compromise of 1850 addresses the balance of free and slave states in the U.S.

• 1851 – A steady year of production as the Seated Liberty series is firmly established.
  World Fact: The Fugitive Slave Act is passed as part of the Compromise of 1850.

• 1852 – Continued production of the Seated Liberty Half Dollar. There’s increased interest in silver coinage as the U.S. grows economically.
  World Fact: The Crimean War begins, pitting the Ottoman Empire and its allies against Russia.

• 1853 – Introduction of smaller arrows and rays on Seated Liberty Half Dollars to indicate a reduction in silver content.
  World Fact: The Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed, leading to violence over the issue of slavery in the territories.

• 1854 – Production continues as the U.S. Mint adapts to the needs of an expanding economy.
  World Fact: The Crimean War continues, involving multiple European powers.

• 1855 – Continued production of the Seated Liberty Half Dollar, though new coin designs are being considered.
  World Fact: The Indian Reorganization Act is passed in the U.S., addressing Native American lands and rights.

• 1856 – Coinage continues to grow in demand as the U.S. economy booms.
  World Fact: The Suez Canal opens in Egypt, dramatically changing global shipping routes.

• 1857 – The U.S. faces economic difficulties, but coinage continues to be produced.
  World Fact: The Panic of 1857 causes an economic depression in the U.S., leading to job losses and financial instability.

• 1858 – The Seated Liberty design remains a favorite, though demand for smaller denominations like the Indian Head cent grows.
  World Fact: The Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court further divides the U.S. over slavery.

• 1859 – A steady year of minting as U.S. society faces growing tensions over slavery and civil rights.
  World Fact: Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, revolutionizing scientific thought.

• 1860 – Minting continues, though the U.S. is nearing the brink of civil war.
  World Fact: Abraham Lincoln is elected President, and the U.S. begins heading toward the Civil War.

• 1861 – The outbreak of the American Civil War causes disruptions in the economy and coin production.
  World Fact: The Civil War begins, dramatically altering U.S. society and politics.

• 1862 – War disrupts the economy, but the U.S. Mint continues production of Seated Liberty Half Dollars.
  World Fact: The Homestead Act is passed, granting free land to settlers in the West.

• 1863 – The Seated Liberty Half Dollar continues to be struck, but silver coinage faces new challenges due to war.
  World Fact: The Battle of Gettysburg takes place, a turning point in the Civil War.

• 1864 – Production of Seated Liberty coins continues to rise in the face of the ongoing Civil War.
  World Fact: The Confederate States experience a major loss, and the Union begins to gain ground in the Civil War.

• 1865 – The Civil War ends with the defeat of the Confederacy, leading to Reconstruction and rebuilding of the country.
  World Fact: Abraham Lincoln is assassinated, leading to the beginning of Reconstruction.

• 1866 – The Mint produces fewer Seated Liberty Half Dollars, as the country focuses on post-war recovery.
  World Fact: The Ku Klux Klan is formed in the U.S., which impacts the political landscape during Reconstruction.

• 1867 – U.S. coinage production remains steady, with the country beginning to stabilize after the war.
  World Fact: The Canadian Confederation is formed, uniting several British colonies into Canada.

• 1868 – Coin production continues to grow, as the economy slowly recovers from the war.
  World Fact: The U.S. Navy becomes a global force as the country begins to expand its influence overseas.

• 1869 – A steady year for coin production; interest in Seated Liberty Half Dollars continues.
  World Fact: The Suez Canal expansion continues to facilitate world trade.

• 1870 – Coin production continues, though mintages remain lower than earlier years. The U.S. is still in the process of recovery from the Civil War.
  World Fact: The first U.S. census after the Civil War shows the country’s rapid growth in population.

• 1871 – The U.S. Mint faces challenges with inflation and silver supply. Coin production remains steady but not overwhelming.
  World Fact: The Great Chicago Fire begins, destroying much of the city and reshaping its development.

• 1872 – A steady year of coin production as the economy continues to expand, though the impact of the Civil War still lingers in the southern states.
  World Fact: The first international phone call is made between the U.S. and Canada.

• 1873 – This year sees the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873, which establishes the U.S. Mint as the sole entity for coin production and removes silver dollars from circulation.
  World Fact: The Panic of 1873 causes a major economic depression, impacting coin production and circulation.

• 1874 – Coin production becomes more consistent as the nation begins to recover from the panic, and the Seated Liberty Half Dollar continues to be struck.
  World Fact: The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge begins, which will later become an iconic symbol of American engineering.

• 1875 – Seated Liberty Half Dollars continue to be minted, though demand for silver coinage is on the decline due to the economic situation.
  World Fact: The Philippine Islands are ceded by Spain to the U.S. following the Spanish-American War, setting the stage for American imperial expansion.

• 1876 – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and many commemorations are held across the country.
  World Fact: The Centennial Exposition is held in Philadelphia, marking America’s first major world’s fair.

• 1877 – The U.S. Mint increases production of silver coinage, though the Seated Liberty Half Dollar is no longer as prominent as newer designs are considered.
  World Fact: The first telephone exchange is created in New Haven, Connecticut, signaling the growth of the telephone industry.

• 1878 – The Seated Liberty Half Dollar’s popularity starts to decline as newer coinage designs are being considered, but production continues.
  World Fact: The Bureau of Indian Affairs launches new policies for Native American relocation.

• 1879 – Seated Liberty Half Dollars are still produced, but the Morgan Dollar begins to emerge as the preferred silver coin in circulation.
  World Fact: Thomas Edison patents the incandescent light bulb, revolutionizing electricity.

• 1880 – The U.S. economy continues to grow, and though Seated Liberty Half Dollars are still in circulation, interest in newer designs increases.
  World Fact: The opening of the Eiffel Tower in Paris marks a significant achievement in architecture and engineering.

• 1881 – A steady year of production with continued interest in Seated Liberty coinage, though the U.S. Mint is now more focused on introducing more modern designs.
  World Fact: The founding of the American Red Cross by Clara Barton, which becomes a major humanitarian organization.

• 1882 – Coin production continues to be stable, but the Seated Liberty design is reaching the end of its lifespan.
  World Fact: The Haymarket Riot in Chicago results in significant labor unrest and further pushes for workers’ rights.

• 1883 – As the nation continues to grow, production focuses more on coinage designs meant to reflect modern changes.
  World Fact: The American frontier officially ends, with the U.S. census reporting that the “frontier” is no longer a viable concept.

• 1884 – The end of the Seated Liberty design nears, as newer designs like the Barber Half Dollar start to replace it in circulation.
  World Fact: The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece, after more than 1,500 years.

• 1885 – The Seated Liberty Half Dollar is still produced in smaller quantities, marking the final years of the series.
  World Fact: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated in New York Harbor, symbolizing freedom and democracy.

• 1886 – A transitional year as the U.S. Mint begins focusing more on modernizing coinage. Seated Liberty coins continue to circulate in lower denominations.
  World Fact: The opening of the Statue of Liberty marks a symbol of American freedom.

• 1887 – The last significant mintage of Seated Liberty Half Dollars takes place, as the design is phased out in favor of new ideas.
  World Fact: The German Empire continues to expand its power in Europe, solidifying its place in the global stage.

• 1888 – The final year for the Seated Liberty Half Dollar. With a mintage low compared to previous years, it marks the close of the Seated Liberty series and the start of new designs, like the Barber Half Dollar.
  World Fact: The first American baseball season is officially recorded, marking the sport’s growth in popularity.

• 1889 – As the Seated Liberty Half Dollar comes closer to its final mintage, the U.S. Mint sees increasing production of other coin types, such as the Barber series.
  World Fact: The first synthetic dye (mauveine) is created by chemist William Henry Perkin, marking a significant development in the textile industry.

• 1890 – The final years of Seated Liberty coinage see a decline in popularity as the U.S. Mint focuses on newer designs and economic modernization.
  World Fact: The Massacre at Wounded Knee occurs, marking the tragic end to the Indian resistance against U.S. forces.

• 1891 – The last year the Seated Liberty Half Dollar is minted. Production ceases as the U.S. Mint prepares to introduce the Barber Half Dollar in 1892.
  World Fact: The Panic of 1890 begins, leading to a major economic depression.
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re after a coin that blends historical significance, stunning design, and long-term value, the Seated Liberty Half Dollar should definitely be on your radar.

This series isn’t just about owning a piece of silver—it’s about holding a tangible link to the 19th-century America that shaped our country. Whether you’re looking to complete a full year set, zero in on high-grade examples, or just snag one to add to your collection, these coins have something for everyone.

What really makes the Seated Liberty Half Dollar stand out is its variety. Between different design types, subtle variations, and unique mint marks, there’s always something new to learn and discover. For example, the small differences in design elements like the placement of stars or the type of eagle used can turn an otherwise common coin into a sought-after rarity.

As time passes, the high-quality examples of these coins are becoming harder and harder to find. Many have been lost to history or worn down through circulation, so what remains in good condition becomes all the more valuable. This only increases their appeal, making it an excellent time to invest. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, owning a Seated Liberty Half Dollar means connecting with America’s past in a way that’s both educational and rewarding.