USA 1 dollar Seated Liberty 1861
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 71 |
| Mintage | 78,500 |
| Metal | Silver 0.900 |
| thickness | 2.8 mm |
| diameter | 38.1 mm |
| weight | 26.73 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Coat of arms
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
ONE DOL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
This is another of the many dates in the series that is more scarce than its mintage suggests. The attrition rate was high, and just a few hundred survivors are known. There existed little or no demand for this denomination domestically, though the U. S. Mint retained some to pay off depositors of bullion. Others may have been exported to Asia, as in 1859-60, but American traders had little success in getting the Chinese to accept USA dollars. By this time they had gone back to purchasing Mexican dollars at a premium for international trade, since those were the coins of choice in that part of the world. Four die marriages are known, each featuring obverse and reverse dies unique to that marriage. This indicates a sporadic coinage in small quantities with gaps of several weeks or even months between them. None of the dies involved possess features of general interest to variety collectors, so this issue is sought almost solely by date alone. Coins grading below Fine are nearly unknown, and the values provided in price guides are simply projections. Most survivors are at or near the Mint State level, with gems being quite rare. The typical 1861 silver dollar is well struck, with fields that are semi-prooflike, this reflecting the frequent changeouts of dies and short press runs.Read More
