Numismatic

1858-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar VF

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In the years preceding the American Civil War, the New Orleans Mint produced silver coinage that circulated widely across a growing nation. Among these issues is the 1858 half dollar, a fifty-cent piece struck in 90 percent silver. This coin represents a fascinating era of American currency, carrying a total silver weight of 0.3866 troy ounces (or 0.3575 ounces of pure metal content) within its historic alloy. The obverse side displays the classic Liberty Seated motif, envisioned by Christian Gobrecht. Liberty is shown resting on a rock, holding a staff topped with a liberty cap in one hand, while her other hand supports a shield decorated with the word LIBERTY. The date 1858 is struck clearly below this central figure, anchoring the coin to its specific moment in pre-1933 American history. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted with its wings spread, perched upon an olive branch and clutching a trio of arrows. A shield is positioned over the eagle's chest, mirroring the design theme from the obverse. The legend reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination is noted at the bottom as HALF DOL. Positioned just below the eagle, the 'O' mint mark identifies this piece as a product of the historic southern branch mint in Louisiana.