Numismatic

1839-1891 Liberty Seated Half Dollars VF

---

During the middle and late nineteenth century, the United States Mint produced a striking silver half dollar that became a staple of American commerce. Minted from 1839 to 1891, these fifty-cent pieces contain 0.3575 troy ounces of actual silver content within their 90 percent silver composition. Depending on the specific year of issue, these coins were struck at various federal facilities, which may include Philadelphia, San Francisco, Carson City, or New Orleans. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the obverse of the coin presents a seated figure of Liberty. She holds a staff topped with a liberty cap in one hand while her other hand rests upon a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. The reverse of the coin displays a powerful eagle perched on a branch, grasping three arrows, with a shield positioned across its chest. Legible reverse inscriptions include the issuing authority, STATES OF AMERICA, and the denomination, denoted as HALF DOL. This particular coin has survived the decades in Very Fine condition, showing moderate wear but retaining clear design details. It stands as a fascinating tangible connection to the era spanning the gold rush, the Civil War, and the expansion of the American West.