Numismatic

1840-1873 Liberty Seated Dollar BU

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Struck between 1840 and 1873, the Liberty Seated silver dollar represents a fascinating era in American currency. This substantial coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of silver, minted at a purity of 90 percent. Originally released for everyday domestic commerce starting in 1840, the coin eventually faced an unusual economic challenge. By the 1850s, the market value of its precious metal content climbed higher than its one-dollar face value, prompting changes in how these coins circulated. Consequently, later mintages of this series found their primary use abroad in export trade rather than in domestic transactions. The visual artistry of this silver dollar was crafted by Christian Gobrecht. On the obverse, the design features Liberty in a seated position, holding a shield in one hand while supporting a pole topped with a liberty cap in the other. The word LIBERTY is clearly inscribed on the shield. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted with a shield across its chest, perched upon a branch while grasping three arrows. The surrounding inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination, ONE DOL.