Numismatic

1870 Liberty Seated Dollar VF

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In 1870, the Philadelphia Mint produced this silver dollar, a denomination that had been circulating in the United States since 1840. This particular issue belongs to the celebrated Liberty Seated series, featuring a design by Christian Gobrecht. The coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of silver with a purity of 0.900. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the silver within these coins actually surpassed their one dollar face value, which frequently directed them into international trade channels rather than domestic pockets. The front of the coin displays a classic representation of Lady Liberty, who is shown resting on a rock while grasping a shield in one hand and a staff topped with a liberty cap in the other. The year 1870 is inscribed below her. On the reverse, a majestic eagle is depicted with a shield across its chest, clutching an olive branch and a trio of arrows in its talons. The surrounding inscriptions include the issuing nation, the denomination of one dollar, and the national motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST." This specimen is preserved in Very Fine condition, showing honest wear from its time in circulation. Because it was struck at the main minting facility in Philadelphia, it does not bear a mint mark, distinguishing it from branch mint issues of the era.