Numismatic

1879 Liberty Seated Half Dollar XF-45 PCGS

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The 1879 Liberty Seated half dollar represents an incredibly scarce moment in United States coinage history. Minted in Philadelphia during the post-Civil War era, this specific issue saw a production run of a mere 4,800 pieces. Finding an example today in any condition is a noteworthy event for those who appreciate rare nineteenth-century silver. The obverse features the classic depiction of Liberty seated upon a rock. In one hand, she supports a staff topped with a liberty cap, while her other hand rests upon a shield inscribed with the word Liberty. The year 1879 is struck clearly below the figure. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted with a shield across its chest, clutching three arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The denomination is indicated at the bottom as HALF DOL. Struck from 90 percent silver with a total precious metal content of 0.3575 troy ounces, this coin has been officially certified in Extra Fine 45 condition. Because the Philadelphia Mint did not use a mintmark during this era, the space below the eagle remains blank, distinguishing it from branch-mint issues of the period. This coin survives as a tangible survivor of a highly restricted late-nineteenth-century mintage.