Seated Liberty Half Dime 1837 - 1873
Seated Liberty Half Dime 1837 - 1873: identify, compare, and value
Use this page to identify details collectors compare, understand value clues, and check current market examples.
Value Guide Summary
Use this page to understand what this collectible is, what details collectors usually compare, and where to check current market examples.
What collectors look for
Original condition, age, maker marks, materials, completeness, unusual variants, and documented history usually matter most.
How to identify examples
Compare markings, construction details, finish, size, period-correct materials, and known design features before assuming authenticity.
Value clues
Rarity, demand, condition, eye appeal, provenance, and whether similar examples are actively selling can all affect market value.
Red flags
Watch for reproductions, heavy restoration, replaced parts, fantasy pieces, unclear photos, and listings with vague descriptions.
1837-38 Half Dime Seated Liberty No Stars
The Sully/Gobrecht Seated Liberty design was adapted for use on half dimes and dimes in 1837. It depicted a robed Liberty seated on a rock, holding the Union Shield inscribed with LIBERTY in her right hand and a pole topped with a Liberty cap in her left. Except for the date, the figure sits alone in clear fields. The reverse features a laurel wreath enclosing the denomination HALF DIME, with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling the periphery. As opposed to the later coins issued with stars, the cleanness of the fields gave the coin a powerful, aesthetic impact, often presenting a cameo appearance on higher grade pieces.
1838-59 Half Dime Seated Liberty With Stars
Only No Stars half dimes (and dimes) of 1837-38 accurately reflect Gobrecht's original concept. Liberty is seated on a large rock, holding a pole topped with a Liberty cap. The figure sits alone in the field with only the date below, imparting a cameo, medal-like appearance to the coin. The reverse essentially the same on all half dimes from 1837 to 1859 features the denomination HALF DIME encircled by a laurel wreath, in turn surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In 1838, 13 stars were arranged around the image of Liberty, creating the Stars Obverse type, with each star hand-punched into a previous No Stars die. Collectors refer to the coins of 1838-1840 slightly different in appearance than later issues as the "No Drapery" variety and often include them in type sets as a separate design.
In 1840, Robert Ball Hughes made the first of many modifications to come. He added extra drapery behind Liberty's elbow, and unfortunately, "fattened" the overall design. Thirteen years later, to combat widespread melting of silver coins following the California Gold Rush, Chief Engraver James B. Longacre added arrowheads on either side of the date, denoting a slight weight reduction. The Stars obverse design, without arrows, resumed in 1856 and continued until 1860, when the Legend Obverse design debuted. The last changes were made in 1859, when engraver Anthony Paquet slimmed Liberty's arms, reduced the size of her cap and enlarged her head. But the most notable difference of Paquet's revision is the hollow center of each peripheral star. Some type collectors include this minor variety in their sets.
1853-55 Half Dime Seated Liberty With Arrows
More than 13 million Arrows half dimes were struck in Philadelphia in 1853, more than half the total output of 25,060,020 for the three years arrows were used. Only Philadelphia and New Orleans produced the issue, and the New Orleans pieces are significantly scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts. Proofs were struck in all three years but are of the utmost rarity.
Arrows half dimes are easily collected in all but the highest grades. There are no real "stoppers" in the three-year set, but the New Orleans coins are considerably more elusive and expensive than those from the Philadelphia Mint. For decades coin dealers would not stock low grade Arrows half dimes because they were considered so common. This disdain carried over to higher grade coins as well, and it has only been in recent years that type collectors have elevated this series to respectability because of the need for gem coins for type sets (few of which had survived). As one might expect, the wholesale removal of all pre-1853 silver coins did create several rarities, and in the half dime series 1853-O Without Arrows is a significant rarity that has sometimes been counterfeited by altering an 1858-O coin.
