Numismatic

1857 Liberty Seated Half Dollar VG

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In 1857, the Philadelphia Mint produced a silver half dollar that showcases one of the classic design eras of United States coinage. Struck in 90% silver, this fifty-cent piece carries a total precious metal content of 0.3575 troy ounces. The coin represents the artistic vision of Christian Gobrecht, whose work defined the mid-nineteenth-century aesthetic of American money. The obverse side presents a seated figure of Liberty. She is depicted holding a pole topped with a liberty cap, while her other hand rests upon a shield. This imagery is mirrored on the reverse, where an eagle is perched on a branch. The bird holds three arrows in its talons and bears a shield across its chest. The inscriptions on the coin include the date 1857 on the obverse, with the country name and the denomination on the reverse. This particular coin survives in Very Good condition, showing honest wear from its time in circulation during the pre-1933 era of American currency. Because it was minted at the main Philadelphia facility, it does not bear a mint mark, a common characteristic of coins from this period.