Numismatic

1869 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Good

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The year 1869 saw the production of a silver half dollar featuring one of the most recognized and enduring motifs of nineteenth-century American coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this fifty-cent piece is composed of 90 percent silver, containing approximately 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. The obverse side displays a seated depiction of Liberty. She is shown holding a staff topped with a liberty cap in one hand, while her other hand rests upon a shield. This imagery, created by Christian Gobrecht, came to define an entire era of United States silver currency. On the reverse, a detailed eagle is depicted perched upon a branch. The bird holds three arrows in its talons, representing strength and readiness, while a shield is positioned across its chest. This combination of classic symbols captures the artistic style of the era, making the 1869 half dollar a compelling subject for study.