Numismatic

1866-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar VG-8 PCGS (No Motto)

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In 1866, the San Francisco Mint produced a fascinating transitional variety of the Liberty Seated half dollar. This particular silver coin, struck with a purity of 90 percent, is notable for the absence of the scroll bearing the motto 'In God We Trust' above the eagle on the reverse. With a total mintage of 994,000 pieces for this year and mint mark combination, surviving specimens carry a distinct sense of frontier history from the post-Civil War American West. The obverse features the classic design of Lady Liberty seated on a rock, holding a staff topped with a liberty cap, with the year 1866 anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, an eagle grasps an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by the legends 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and the denomination 'HALF DOL.' The small 'S' mint mark below the eagle identifies its origin at the San Francisco facility. Having been certified in Very Good 8 condition, this coin shows honest wear from its time in active circulation, leaving its primary design elements and major inscriptions beautifully legible for observers to appreciate.