1878 Seated Liberty Half Dollar
Base
About This Coin
The 1878 Seated Liberty Half Dollar is a United States half dollar from the Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891 series — 40th of 53 years in the series. In 1878, coins were struck at the San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Carson City Mints with a combined mintage of 1.5 million. This ranks 20th of 53 years by total mintage, below the series median of 2.1 million. 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. Struck during the Gilded Age of rapid industrialization and the great silver debates, when monetary policy shaped elections and economic destiny. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.5 grams, 30 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Produced 6 years before the celebrated 1884 key date. Across its variants, estimated values range from $84 to $147K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $200K in MS64 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
