USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1865
USA, Philadelphia


Rarity
Uncommon
Attributes of Coins
Region | USA |
---|---|
Denomination | ½ dollar |
Krause number | KM# A68 |
Mintage | 511,400 |
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
This is yet another low-mintage issue that suffered a very high attrition rate. As with most P-Mint halves of the period, examples are rare overall, yet with a disproportionately high number of Mint State survivors. Several of those coins are gems, making this otherwise rare issue available to the advanced collector. 1865(P) halves allegedly were included in the Guatemala Hoard of 1860s half dollars discovered nearly a century later, but most of the coins seen with the characteristically harsh cleaning of hoard pieces carry an S mintmark. Eight die marriages are known for the 1865 Philadelphia Mint half dollar, and these are comprised of six each obverse and reverse dies in multiple combinations. Despite a small mintage, three different collars were employed, these having 145, 152 or 153 reeds, respectively. One of the more popular varieties in this long coin series is the 1865 half dollar with repunched date (FS-301, WB-102). The second punching was made counterclockwise to the first, with the 1 duplicated at top and the 5 at bottom. Less well known but also collectible is WB-103, a misplaced date revealing the top of a 6 within the denticles (WB-103).Read More