SEATED LIBERTY HALF DIMES (1837-1873)
Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions
Seated Half Dime Facts:
The half dime was one of the original denominations introduced almost as soon as the United States coinage system began. The half dime denomination was authorized April 2, 1792, by Congress, making it one of the initial denominations authorized for currency in the United States.
The Seated Half Dime's 36 year life span saw many alterations in design. The 1837-1838 issues saw an obverse without stars and a "slender" wreath, from 1838-1853 saw obverse with stars, from 1860-1873 the stars where replaced with the legend, from 1853-1855 an arrow head was added on each side of the date, from 1860-1873 the legend was added to the reverse, and the wreath was dramatically changed to thicker leaves.
The Act of Jan. 18, 1837 authorized the new Seated Liberty design of a slightly lower weight. 1838 was the first year for a branch mint with an O mint mark (New Orleans), and 1863 for San Francisco S mint mark.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: Obverse by Thomas Sully, executed by Christian Gobrecht; Reverse by Christian Gobrecht
Diameter: 15.9 millimeters
Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Other - 10%
Weight: 20.6 grains (1.3 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mint mark: None for Philadelphia Mint, S for San Francisco Mint, O for New Orleans Mint, and appears below DIME on the reverse.
First Obverse Without Stars ®
Cherry Picker's List:
1839-O The Mint mark comes in three different sizes, the largest being the rarest.
1840 The Mint mark comes in three different sizes, the largest being the rarest.
1840-O Look for the rare variety with the Large Letters reverse. This date also comes With and Without Drapery.
1841-O The Mint mark comes in three different sizes, the largest being the rarest.
1842-O Drapery ground off the die.
1844-O Large O variety.
1848-O The Mint mark comes in three different sizes - the Small O is the rarest.
1850-O The Mint mark comes in three different sizes - the Small O is the rarest.
1853 Also comes with Arrowheads on either side of the date.
1853-O Also comes with Arrowheads on either side of the date.
1858 Inverted Date variety where the date was first punched completely upside-down.
1859 Also of interest are rare 1859 Transitional Patterns that lack any reference to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
1860 Also of interest are rare 1860 Transitional Patterns that lack any reference to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
1861 1861/0 over date.
1863 Rare, Proof Restrikes have an open top on the D of UNITED.
1864 Rare, Proof Restrikes have an open top on the D of UNITED.
1870-S None were recorded, and only a single example known.
