- United States Seated Liberty coinage
The "Seated Liberty" designs appeared on most regular-issue
silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century , from1836 through1891 . The denominations which featured the Seated Liberty design included thehalf dime , the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and the silver dollar. Another coin that appeared exclusively in the Seated Liberty design was the twenty cent piece. This coin was produced from 1875 to 1878, and was discontinued because it looked very similar to the quarter. Seated Liberty coinage was minted at the mainUnited States Mint in Philadelphia, as well as the branch mints in New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City.Basic Design
Obverse
The basic
obverse design of the Seated Liberty coinage consisted of the figure of the goddess Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she held a pole surmounted by a liberty cap, which had been a pre-eminent symbol of freedom during the movement ofNeoclassicism . Although it had fallen out of favor inEurope by1830 , Neoclassicism remained in vogue in theUnited States until after theAmerican Civil War . Liberty's right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word "LIBERTY." The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty.Reverse
The basic reverse design of Seated Liberty coins depended on the denomination. The size of half dimes and dimes necessitated a smaller array of elements. On these coins, the reverse consistently featured a
wreath around the words "HALF DIME" or "ONE DIME". Before1860 , this wreath consisted of laurel leaves, a traditional Neoclassical image, but beginning that year, the wreath was enlarged and was filled not only withleaves , but also traditional Americanagricultural products, such as corn andwheat . On quarter, half dollars, and silver dollar coins, the reverse featured a centraleagle about to take flight, with a striped shield upon its breast. The eagle clutched anolive branch ofpeace in its right talons and a group ofarrows in its left talons. Above the eagle around the rim were the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and below the eagle around the rim lay the coin denomination. Beginning in1866 the coins featured a ribbon with the motto "In God We Trust" above the eagle.Modifications
tars
When the first Seated Liberty half dimes and dimes appeared in
1837 , the obverse contained no stars. There are two varieties; the Large Date and the Small Date. For the Dime, these two types can be distinguished by noting the "3" and the "7" in the date. In the Large Date variety, the "3" has a pointy serif at top, and the horizontal element of the "7" is straight. In the Small Date variety, the "3" has a rounded serif, and there is small a knob, or bulge, in the "7" horizontal element. Only the Philadelphia Mint made both varieties. The Small Date is slightly rarer. The New Orleans Mint made only one variety. For the half dime, the Small Date can be distinguished by the fact that it is slightly bent in a "smile" orientation, similar to the Bust type of half dime. The Large Date can be distinguished by the fact that the date is more in a straight line, similar to dates of later years for the Seated Liberty. Only the Philadelphia Mint made half dimes in this year.The next year, the coins featured thirteen six-pointed stars around the rim, commemorating the original
thirteen colonies .Drapery
The Seated Liberty coins featured a few minor design changes over the years. Around
1840 (the exact date depends upon the denomination), extra drapery was added to Liberty's left elbow.Arrows and rays
In
1853 and1873 , theU.S. Mint changed the weight of each denomination of silver coins. Both times, arrows were added to the coins on each side of the date. These were removed from coins in1856 and1875 , respectively. In 1853, the mint also placed rays around the eagle on the reverse of half dollars and quarters, a feature which endured for that one year only.Legend and Mintmarks
In
1860 theU.S. Mint eliminated the stars on the obverse of Seated Libertyhalf dime s and dimes, replacing them with the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," which had previously appeared around thewreath on the reverse of thecoins . Before this time, half dimes and dimes minted in New Orleans and San Francisco had featured theirmintmark s inside the wreaths. Afterwards, the "O" and "S" (and, later, the "CC" for Carson City) mintmarks were located below the wreath next to the rim. On quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars, the mintmarks were always placed below theeagle but above thecoin currency on the reverse.Varieties
Many people Collect Seated Coinage by Variety. This can range from a repunched mintmark to the position of a date on the coin to a die crack at various stages. This type of collecting has been popular with Bust Half Dollars for well over 100 years. Seated Coin collecting by variety has grown over the last 30 years with the formation of Liberty Seated Collectors Club.
External links
* [http://www.coincommunity.com/us_coin_links/us_coinage_seated_liberty.asp US Seated Liberty Coinage by year and type.] Histories, photos, mintages, edge designs, designers, and more.
* [http://www.coinpage.com/seated%20liberty%20Half%20dollar-pictures.html Seated Liberty Half Dollar pictures]Information Sources:Liberty Seated Half Dime Large Date and Small Date Varieties: A Guide Book of United States Coins, by Richard (R. S.) Yeoman, ISBN 0794820395
Liberty Seated Dime Large Date and small Date Varieties: Seated.Org
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