Design and Specifications of the Liberty Seated Half Dollar

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar series was part of a larger design change across multiple denominations in the mid-19th century. It replaced the Capped Bust design and was minted during a period of significant historical events, including the Civil War and westward expansion. The series underwent several minor design modifications throughout its 52-year run.
Weight 12.44 grams
Diameter 30.6 mm
Mint Marks New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC), and Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Composition 90% silver, 10% copper
Obverse Design Seated Liberty figure holding a shield and liberty pole with cap, designed by Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Design Eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows, designed by Christian Gobrecht
Years of Minting 1839-1891

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Liberty Seated Half Dollars significantly impacts their value, with well-preserved examples commanding substantial premiums. Mint state coins are particularly valuable. Notable varieties, such as the 1866 No Motto and 1873 Doubled Die Obverse, can greatly increase a coin’s rarity and value. Additionally, the series includes several overdate varieties that are highly prized by collectors.
1852 Low mintage of 77,130; scarce in all grades
1878-S 12,000 minted; highly sought after by collectors
1870-CC 54,617 minted; rare Carson City issue
1842-O Small Date Only 100,000 minted; one of the key dates in the series
1873-CC No Arrows Only 5,000 minted; extremely rare and valuable

Explore Liberty Seated Half Dollar Values by Year

1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891

Most Valuable Liberty Seated Half Dollar

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1853 Half Dollar Arrows and Rays (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $1,750.00 –
1877 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $650.00 –
1854 Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $900.00 –
1861 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1875 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $650.00 –
1858-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1858 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1857 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1876 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $650.00 –
1855 Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $1,150.00 –
1861-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $2,000.00 –
1873 Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,250.00 –
1871 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $850.00 –
1854-O Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $900.00 –
1875-CC Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $2,600.00 –
1853-O Half Dollar Arrows and Rays (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $3,750.00 –
1881 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $300.00 – $1,500.00 –
1885 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $1,675.00 –
1890 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $1,600.00 –
1843 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $1,200.00 –
1859 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1855-O Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $900.00 –
1872 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $950.00 –
1887 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $1,950.00 –
1889 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $1,850.00 –
1859-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $900.00 –
1877-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $650.00 –
1878 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $675.00 –
1880 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $300.00 – $1,850.00 –
1870 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $950.00 –
1883 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $1,650.00 –
1874 Half Dollar Arrows (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,250.00 –
1877-CC Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $1,600.00 –
1891 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $900.00 –
1850 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $400.00 – $2,350.00 –
1863 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,250.00 –
1864 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,850.00 –
1876-CC Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $2,750.00 –
1860 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1862 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,400.00 –
1869 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $900.00 –
1873 Half Dollar No Arrows, Open 3 (Regular Strike) $2,000.00 – $30,000.00 –
1888 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $325.00 – $1,500.00 –
1842 Half Dollar Medium Date (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $1,400.00 –
1856 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1856-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1857-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $5,000.00 –
1840 Half Dollar Small Letters (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $1,350.00 –
1844 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $1,000.00 –
1866 Half Dollar Motto (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $900.00 –
1868-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $1,250.00 –
1879 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $1,400.00 –
1886 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $400.00 – $1,750.00 –
1849 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $1,350.00 –
1850-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,100.00 –
1851 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $850.00 – $4,250.00 –
1852 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $650.00 – $4,250.00 –
1864-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $2,250.00 –
1846 Half Dollar Tall Date (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $1,600.00 –
1848-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,600.00 –
1882 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $350.00 – $2,100.00 –
1884 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $400.00 – $1,800.00 –
1890 Half Dollar (Proof) $700.00 – $850.00 –
1860-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $800.00 –
1865-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $2,750.00 –
1867 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $1,350.00 –
1871-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $1,200.00 –
1872-CC Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $25,000.00 –
1878-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $25,000.00 – $135,000.00 –
1885 Half Dollar (Proof) $175.00 – $850.00 –
1886 Half Dollar (Proof) $600.00 – $850.00 –
1889 Half Dollar (Proof) $600.00 – $850.00 –
1847 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,100.00 –
1858-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $2,000.00 –
1861-O Half Dollar CSA Obverse (Regular Strike) $400.00 – $21,000.00 –
1863-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,600.00 –
1865 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $2,600.00 –
1870-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $2,750.00 –
1877 Half Dollar (Proof) $600.00 – $850.00 –
1879 Half Dollar (Proof) $400.00 – $850.00 –
1882 Half Dollar (Proof) $700.00 – $850.00 –
1883 Half Dollar (Proof) $500.00 – $850.00 –
1884 Half Dollar (Proof) $600.00 – $850.00 –
1887 Half Dollar (Proof) $200.00 – $850.00 –
1840-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $2,000.00 –
1842-O Half Dollar Small Date, Rev 1839 (Regular Strike) $750.00 – $17,500.00 –
1845 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $1,850.00 –
1845-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,150.00 –
1846-O Half Dollar Tall Date (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $9,000.00 –
1848 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,750.00 –
1849-O Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $1,600.00 –
1853-O Half Dollar No Arrows (Regular Strike) $250,000.00 – $750,000.00 –
1861-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,600.00 –
1862-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,600.00 –
1854 Half Dollar Arrows (Proof) $5,000.00 – $8,500.00 –
1868 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $1,500.00 –
1876-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $650.00 –
1866 Half Dollar Motto (Proof) $650.00 – $950.00 –
1878 Half Dollar (Proof) $650.00 – $850.00 –
1880 Half Dollar (Proof) $600.00 – $850.00 –
1881 Half Dollar (Proof) $300.00 – $850.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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