Numismatic

1856-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar VG

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Struck in the antebellum South, the 1856 half dollar from the New Orleans Mint represents a fascinating era of American silver coinage. This piece, composed of 90 percent silver with a precious metal content of 0.3575 troy ounces, carries the distinctive 'O' mint mark, indicating its origin from the historic Louisiana facility. Out of a original mintage of 2,658,000, surviving examples show the honest wear of a coin that actively circulated through the commerce of a growing nation, currently evaluated in Very Good condition. The obverse features the iconic Liberty Seated design created by Christian Gobrecht. 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. The reverse displays an eagle with wings spread, perched upon an olive branch and clutching three arrows, with a shield emblazoned across its chest. The surrounding inscriptions include the issuing nation and the face value, abbreviated as HALF DOL.