USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1877
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Common
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# A99 |
| Mintage | 8,304,000 |
| 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
The minting of fractional silver coins continued at a frantic pace throughout 1877, and Philadelphia fell just short of its record production for 1876. This issue is very common in all circulated grades, and Mint State examples are fairly available right through the gem level (MS-65 and higher). Most of these coins were well made, with full or nearly full strikes and minimal die flaws. So great was the coinage of 1877(P) half dollars that seven different collars have been identified! These are known with reed counts of 144, 147, 152, 154, 155, 156 or 157. As of 1993, Wiley and Bugert had cataloged 15 die marriages consisting of the same number of obverse and reverse dies. These figure will undoubtedly rise when the Die Registry for Philadelphia half dollars of the period is published by Bill Bugert. The Type 1 reverse hub is very rare for 1877(P), with just a single die identified. Also rare is a transitional variety which has a Type 2 reverse is all aspects but one---the lower bud is open! This oddity may represent some hand work done while the new reverse was being perfected. The 1877/6 overdate variety (FS-301) resulted when an 1876-dated die was impressed a second time with an 1877 date punch. The remants of the 6 are seen raised on the surface of the second 7, indicating that the 1876 date was punched to a greater depth than its replacement.Read More
