1839 Seated Liberty Half Dime

About This Coin

The 1839 Seated Liberty Half Dime is a United States dime from the Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873 series. The obverse features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian liberty cap in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right, while the reverse displays an agricultural wreath enclosing the denomination. Designed by Robert Ball Hughes and Christian Gobrecht. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 1.34 grams, 15.9 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Produced at the New Orleans and Philadelphia Mints. The Seated Liberty Half Dime was the final five-cent silver coin. Like other Seated Liberty denominations, it went through multiple subtypes reflecting weight changes. The introduction of the Shield Nickel in 1866 gradually supplanted the silver half dime, which was discontinued in 1873. Transitional varieties with and without arrows at the date are collected by type. The 1870-S is a rarity with only one known example. New Orleans and San Francisco mint issues carry premiums.