1861 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar - Special Strike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$97,750 SP64 04-01-2008 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1861 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar - Special Strike is a special strike half dollar struck at the New Orleans Mint, part of the Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891 series. With a mintage of 1,000, this is an extremely rare issue — the lowest mintage among 7 mint variants, representing only less than 1% of total 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. Auction record: $97,750 SP64 04-01-2008 Heritage Auctions. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.44 grams, 30 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #6422.