Numismatic

1859-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar AU

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Struck in the antebellum South, this 1859 silver half dollar represents a fascinating era of American coining history. Produced at the New Orleans branch mint, the coin contains 0.3575 troy ounces of actual silver content within its 90 percent pure composition. This specific specimen has survived the decades in a highly preserved state, graded as Almost Uncirculated 53. The coin showcases the artistry of Christian Gobrecht. On the obverse, a seated figure of Liberty rests with her right hand supporting a shield, while her left hand holds a staff topped by a liberty cap. The year 1859 is inscribed below this central figure. The reverse displays a powerful eagle with a shield across its chest, grasping three arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The inscriptions confirm its face value as a half dollar, reading HALF DOL.