Numismatic

1858-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar VG

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Struck in the antebellum South, this 1858 silver half dollar represents a fascinating era of American coining history. Produced at the New Orleans Mint, the coin is composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.3575 troy ounces of the precious metal. It carries the distinctive 'O' mint mark on its reverse, positioned just above the denomination. The obverse features Christian Gobrecht's iconic depiction of Liberty seated on a rock. She holds a staff topped by a liberty cap in one hand, while her other hand supports a shield decorated with stripes. The reverse displays an eagle with wings spread, holding three arrows and an olive branch in its talons, with a shield emblazoned across its chest. Legible inscriptions on this half dollar include the date 1858 on the obverse, and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOL on the reverse. As a coin that circulated heavily in everyday commerce, it is graded in Very Good condition. While some areas of the outer rims may show weakness from decades of handling, the key elements of this mid-nineteenth-century design remain clearly visible, offering a tangible connection to the past.