USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1847
USA, New Orleans
Rarity
Common
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 68 |
| Mintage | 2,584,000 |
| Metal | Silver 0.900 |
| diameter | 30.6 mm |
| weight | 13.36 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Coat of arms
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
HALF DOL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
This is a high-mintage issue that is widely available over a range of grades through Extremely Fine. Higher-grade examples are a bit scarce, yet a fair number of Mint State survivors are known, though precious few reach the gem level (MS-65 and above). Most 1847-O half dollars are well struck, but they often suffer from overly polished dies that diminished the shallower details. Subject to erasure through such die polishing are the drapery at Liberty's elbow and the end of her left foot. Some 28 die marriages have been identified by researchers Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert, these resulting from the use of eight obverses and 12 reverses. While the Philadelphia Mint shipped 12 obverse dies and 18 reverses to New Orleans for 1847 half dollars, not all of these have been verified. In the case of reverse dies, that mint likely used some holdovers from earlier years, while others were not needed until succeeding years. Three collars have been identified, these having 143 reeds, 145 and 147, respectively. The 1847-O half dollar is rich in varieties.with several repunched dates known, as well as a very desirable doubled-die obverse (WB-104).Read More
