Numismatic

1854-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar AU

---

In 1854, the New Orleans branch mint produced a significant run of silver half dollars, striking over five million of these fifty-cent pieces. Crafted from 90 percent silver, each coin contains just over one-third of an ounce of precious metal. This particular specimen survives in an exceptional Almost Uncirculated state, preserving the fine details of its mid-nineteenth-century manufacture. The obverse features the classic Liberty Seated design. Liberty is depicted resting on a rock, holding a staff topped with a liberty cap in one hand while her other hand supports a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Below her feet, the date 1854 is clearly visible. On the reverse, a powerful eagle is depicted with a shield draped across its chest. The bird grasps three arrows and an olive branch in its talons, representing a balance of strength and peace. The legend surrounding the eagle reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, while the denomination is displayed below as HALF DOL.