USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1868
USA, San Francisco
Rarity
Common
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 99 |
| Mintage | 1,160,000 |
| 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
Both silver and gold coins circulated freely in the Far West, so the San Francisco Mint continued to crank out substantial quantities of half dollars year after year. This was a remarkable feat, as several published accounts survive that detail the wholly inadequate facility in which these coins were produced. A new mint would not go into service for another six years. This issue is common across all circulated grades, but it is quite rare in full Mint State. Survivors may be found with full details from fresh dies, but most 1868-S halves reveal the die erosion and blurred denticles so typical of S-Mint silver coins during the 1860s. Mint records indicate that eight obverse dies were shipped to San Francisco for this coinage. The original batch of reverse dies with motto shipped there in 1866 must have dwindled by 1868, as 12 new reverses were sent from Philadelphia. To date, eight die marriages are known from the combining of seven obverses and six reverses. The remaining reverse dies would have been held over for the following year, but, of course, all 1868-dates obverses had to be destroyed in 1869. A single collar has been identified, this having 140 reeds. No fewer than three MPD (misplaced date) varieties are known for the 1868-S half dollar. These are little known among collectors, as the duplicate numerals are fairly well hidden within the denticles below the date, but they are sought by series specialists.Read More
