Numismatic

1870 Liberty Seated Half Dime BU

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In the nineteenth century, the United States minted a silver five-cent coin known as the half dime. This 1870 specimen, struck at the Philadelphia Mint, survives in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, preserving the sharp details of its classic engraving. Containing 0.0359 troy ounces of silver with a purity of 90 percent, this small coin represents a fascinating era of American coinage before the five-cent nickel became the standard. The obverse features the iconic Liberty Seated design, created by Christian Gobrecht. Liberty is depicted resting on a rock, holding a shield in one hand and a pole topped with a liberty cap in the other. Below her sits the date 1870, while the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arches around the upper border. On the reverse, a delicate wreath wraps around the central denomination. The words HALF DIME are clearly inscribed within this floral frame. The absence of a mint mark confirms its origin in Philadelphia, making this beautifully preserved silver piece a captivating window into post-Civil War American currency.