Numismatic

1857 Liberty Seated Half Dime AU

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In 1857, the United States Mint in Philadelphia produced a tiny silver treasure: the Liberty Seated half dime. Struck in 90 percent pure silver, this five-cent piece weighs in with a silver content of 0.0387 troy ounces (also noted as 0.0358 troy ounces of pure metal content). It represents a fascinating era of American coinage before the introduction of the modern nickel. The obverse of the coin showcases a classic design by Christian Gobrecht. It features Lady Liberty seated on a rock, holding a staff topped with a liberty cap in one hand while her other hand rests upon a shield. The date 1857 is clearly inscribed beneath her feet. On the reverse, a delicate wreath wraps around the center of the coin, framing the words HALF DIME. The surrounding inscription reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, completing a beautifully balanced mid-nineteenth-century design.