Numismatic

1853 Liberty Seated Half Dime w/Arrows AU

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In the mid-nineteenth century, the United States Mint produced a tiny silver treasure known as the half dime. The 1853 edition is especially captivating for its design details, representing a fascinating era of American coinage. Minted in Philadelphia from 90 percent silver, this small five-cent piece contains approximately 0.0359 troy ounces of precious metal. The obverse of the coin features the iconic image of Liberty seated upon a rock. In her hands, she supports a staff topped with a liberty cap, while her other hand rests on a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Directly below this detailed figure is the date 1853, flanked by two small arrows, a design element unique to this specific period. On the reverse, a delicate wreath wraps around the center of the coin, enclosing the face value of HALF DIME. Surrounding this central motif is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This particular specimen survives in Almost Uncirculated condition, preserving the crisp details of Christian Gobrecht's celebrated mid-nineteenth-century design.