Numismatic

1860-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar Good

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In the year 1860, the New Orleans Mint struck a fifty-cent silver coin that captures the artistic spirit of nineteenth-century American coinage. This half dollar, composed of 90 percent silver with a metal content of 0.3575 troy ounces, belongs to the celebrated Liberty Seated series. The coin survives today in Good condition, showing the honest wear of a piece that circulated during a pivotal era in United States history. The obverse of the coin displays the iconic depiction of Liberty in a seated position. She holds a pole topped with a liberty cap in one hand while resting her other hand on a shield. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted with a shield across its chest, perched on a branch while clutching three arrows. The mint mark "O" is positioned on the reverse, identifying its origin from the historic southern mint in Louisiana. Legible inscriptions on the coin include the date 1860 on the obverse, while the reverse is encircled by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination HALF DOL. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, this coin remains a fascinating specimen for those exploring the evolution of early American silver coinage.