Seated Liberty Half Dime (1837-1873)
Mint Mark Information

US Mint Engraver William Kneass suffered a severe stroke in 1835. Director Robert M. Patterson promoted Christian Gobrecht to, in effect, act as Engraver.

At the time of Kneass’ stroke, Patterson had him busy on a sweeping new design for US silver coinage, something along the line of Britannia on English coppers. Gobrecht stepped in and carried on, in concert with artists Thomas Sully and Titian Peale.

Gobrecht’s design featured Miss Liberty in robes seated on a boulder, hence the name Seated Liberty coinage. She holds a shield inscribed with LIBERTY in her right hand, while her left hand supports a pole topped with a Phrygian cap, an ancient symbol of freedom and the calling of liberty.

Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty first appeared on the 1836 silver dollar bearing his name. In 1837 the half dime and dime adopted the theme. By 1840, the quarter, half dollar, and silver dollar all joined the Seated Liberty club.

An odd occurrence took place with some Seated Liberty Half Dimes in 1859-60. In 1859, the words “United States of America” were being transitioned from the reverse to the obverse. By 1860, the transition was complete. A small number, reportedly 20, were struck in 1859 with a combination of 1859 obverse and what was to become the 1860 reverse, meaning the coins indicated no national identity! About 100 of them were produced the following year using the same combination of dies, but were dated 1860. These transitional pattern “coins without a country” have been known to sell for up to $40,000.

Seated Liberty Half Dime Obverse

Seated Liberty Half Dime Reverse

Seated Liberty Half Dime Mint Mark is located on reverse above bow, 1838-59 and 1870-72.

Seated Liberty Half Dime Mint Mark is located on reverse below bow, 1860-69 and 1872-73.

The following table lists the Mint Marks you might find on the Seated Liberty Half Dime:

It is possible to find an "O" or "S" Mint Mark on the Seated Liberty Half Dime. The Mint Mark is on the reverse, and is found above or below the bow, depending upon what year the coin was struck.

The Seated Liberty Half Dime images at right were provided courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries.

Seated Liberty Half Dimes were produced for 36 years, beginning in 1837. Most of them are fairly common, but there a few key dates. In particular are the Philadelphia Mint issues of 1863 to 1867. They were struck in very small quantities, as low as 8000 in 1867.

If Seated Liberty Half Dimes tickles your fancy, and you're looking for affordable key dates with good odds of strong price advancements, we recommend the Philadelphia Mint half dimes of 1863-67. This means, of course, there is no Mint Mark. The box below is a portal to eBay. If the "View All" link is clicked, the certified examples of 1863-67 Philly half dimes currently for sale will be brought up.

1863-67 Half Dimes
Philadelphia Mint