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1861 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar

Strike Type
1861 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar

Coin Details

Year
1861
Denomination
Half Dollar
Mint Mark
O
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891
Designer
Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht
Mintage
2,532,633
Composition
90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight
12.4g
Diameter
30mm
Edge
Reeded

Value Estimates

$460 - $27,112

Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.

Auction Record

$28,200 MS60 02-19-2018 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

The 1861 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar is a half dollar produced at the New Orleans Mint as part of the Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891 series. The U.S. Mint produced 2.5 million examples, making this ranked 3rd of 5 mint variants by mintage, with 24% of production. 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 and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Confederate and Union forces both struck half dollars at New Orleans, making 1861-O provenance significant. Struck at the New Orleans Mint, which operated from 1838 to 1909 and produced coins prized for their historical Southern provenance. Estimated market value ranges from $460 to $27K depending on grade and condition. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.4 grams, 30 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #6303.

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