How to Identify the Seated Liberty Half Dollar

What It Is

The Seated Liberty Half Dollar was struck from 1839 to 1891, part of a broader Seated Liberty family that also includes the dime, quarter, and dollar. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, it reflects mid-19th-century American coinage before the Barber design took over in 1892.

Obverse Design

Liberty is seated on a rock, facing left, holding a pole topped with a liberty cap in one hand and steadying a shield inscribed "LIBERTY" with the other. Stars surround her, and the date is below. Early strikes (1839) sometimes show drapery added at Liberty's elbow partway through the year.

Reverse Design

A heraldic eagle with wings spread holds arrows and an olive branch, with a shield on its breast. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcs around the rim and "HALF DOL." appears below the eagle.

Size, Weight & Metal

These are 90% silver, 10% copper coins weighing about 12.44 grams (slightly heavier, 13.36 grams, before the 1853 weight reduction), measuring 30.6 mm, with a reeded edge.

Mint Marks & Key Varieties

Mint marks (when present) sit on the reverse below the eagle. Look for "O" (New Orleans) or "S" (San Francisco); no mark means Philadelphia. Watch for arrows beside the date (added in 1853 and again 1873-1874 to mark weight changes), rays around the eagle on the reverse (1853 only), and "IN GOD WE TRUST" above the eagle starting in 1866 — its absence or presence helps narrow down the date range at a glance.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

The seated Liberty pose is shared across denominations, so check size and denomination wording: the half dollar is larger than the seated dime and quarter and reads "HALF DOL." on the reverse. Its predecessor, the Capped Bust half dollar, shows Liberty facing left wearing a cloth cap rather than seated — an easy visual distinction.

Grading at a Glance

Wear shows first on Liberty's knee, breast, and the high points of her head, and on the eagle's head and wing tips on the reverse. Well-preserved examples retain sharp horizontal lines in the shield and clear stars.

Authenticity Red Flags

Because many varieties (arrows, rays, motto) affect value, be alert to added or removed design elements, such as arrows filed off or a motto added to a plain reverse. Genuine coins have crisp, evenly spaced lettering; soft or mushy devices, incorrect weight, or file marks near the date are warning signs of alteration.