USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1876

USA, Carson City

Rarity

Common

Attributes of Coins

Region	USA
Denomination	½ dollar
Krause number	KM# A99
Mintage	1,956,000
Metal	Silver 0.900
thickness	2 mm
diameter	30.6 mm
weight	12.5 g

Obverse:

Liberty

Star

Creators:

Christian Gobrecht

LIBERTY

Reverse:

Coat of arms

Creators:

Christian Gobrecht

HALF DOL.

IN GOD WE TRUST

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Introduction of Coins

This year saw the highest production of half dollars at the Carson City Mint. The goal of the 1875 Specie Resumption Act was fully met in 1876, as paper money finally achieved value parity with the nation's silver coins. The return of gold to circulation in most of the nation was still more than two years away, but in the region served by the CC Mint, both metals had circulated freely all along. In fact, most of the 1876-CC half dollar coinage was shipped east to supplement the restoration of silver in the eastern half of the nation. This issue is common across all grades shy of gem Mint State. There are enough unworn examples of average quality to meet the demand from advanced collectors of this series. Due to its high attrition rate for dies, the Carson City Mint requested a remarkable 54 obverses and 30 reverses from Philadelphia's engraving department. It's not known whether all of these were sent, but some 36 die marriages are known from various combinations of 26 each obverse and reverse dies. No fewer than five collar gauges have been identified: 143, 144, 152, 153 or 154 reeds, respectively. Several RPD varieties are known for the obverse dies, as is a MPD variety. Of greater general interest, however, are the three different mintmark styles used for 1876-CC halves. The vast majority of dies bear the Medium CC which debuted in 1875, and this is the common variety. Seven dies display the Small CC seen for 1874-CC, and just two have Large CC mintmarks. Not surprisingly, this style is rare on 1876-CC half dollars and carries a noticeable premium.Read More