USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1859
USA, San Francisco
Rarity
Uncommon
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# A68 |
| Mintage | 566,000 |
| Metal | Silver 0.900 |
| diameter | 30.6 mm |
| weight | 12.44 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Coat of arms
Creators:
Christian Gobrecht
HALF DOL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
The San Francisco Mint's coining of half dollars rose modestly from 1858's total, and this issue is slightly scarce in lower circulated grades, scarcer still grading XF or AU and genuinely rare at the Mint State level. Gems are all but unknown. Most examples are sharply struck, those some having the Medium S mintmark are known from worn dies. As in 1858, the San Francisco Mint requested no additional reverse dies, the many shipped during 1854-57 being adequate to its needs. It did request and receive 12 obverse dies, six of which have been confirmed on surviving coins. Paired with seven reverses, the result was a total of eight die marriages confirmed to date. All but one of the reverse dies bear the Large S mintmark, but the sole Medium S die was paired with two obverses and is only slightly more scarce than its big brother. Aside from the two mintmark sizes, the only variety is a very minor repunched date. This obverse (WB-6) was paired with both Large S and Medium S reverses, but there is little collector interest outside of dedicated specialists. All 1859-S half dollar feature the Type 1 Reverse hub of 1842, and this would remain true for the next several years of S-Mint half dollars. The surfeit of reverse dies on hand meant that dies of the new hub would not be employed before 1862.Read More
