Numismatic

1856 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Good

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In 1856, the Philadelphia Mint produced this silver half dollar, which carries a face value of 50 cents. Struck in 90 percent silver, this coin represents a classic era of United States coinage, containing approximately 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. The obverse showcases the famous design by Christian Gobrecht, featuring the figure of Liberty seated. In her hands, she supports a staff topped with a liberty cap, while her other hand rests upon a shield. This elegant representation of American ideals was a staple of mid-nineteenth-century circulating currency. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted with a protective shield across its chest. The bird is perched upon a branch while grasping three arrows in its talons, a powerful image paired with the denomination inscription of HALF DOL.