1837-1873 Liberty Seated Half Dimes
After the weight of half dimes, dimes, quarters, and half dollars was adjusted under the Coinage Act of 1853, arrows were placed on each side of the date to indicate the new standard. Before the weight of the half dimes was altered, a limited number of pieces were struck under the old standard at both […]
Besides the enigmatic unique rarity from later in the series, the 1846 Liberty Seated Half Dime (Buy on eBay) is considered the key date coin of the series. The issue had a mintage of 27,000 pieces struck for circulation, along with about 20 proofs. Also of note, the New Orleans Mint did not strike half […]
The 1838-O Liberty Seated Half Dime (Buy on eBay) was struck during the first year of operations for the New Orleans Mint. The issue represents the first branch mint issue of the series and the only branch mint issue for the “No Stars on Obverse” subtype. After the series began in 1837, the design of […]
The design for the Liberty Seated Half Dime was influenced by the allegorical figure of Britannia, who had been featured on British coinage. Artist Thomas Sully made a number of sketches based on the concept, and Assistant Engraver Christian Gobrecht converted these into coin designs. The Liberty Seated motif would first appear on the Gobrecht […]
The half dime denomination had been authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792 as the smallest silver coins to be struck for circulation. Prior to 1829, production of the denomination was sparse, sometimes with many years between different issues. With the introduction of the Capped Bust Half Dime in 1829, large numbers of the coins […]