USA ½ dollar Seated Liberty Half Dollar 1870
USA, Carson City
Rarity
Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 99 |
| Mintage | 54,617 |
| 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
Dies were shipped to the Carson City Mint for 1869 coinage, but that facility was not ready until early in the following year. Eager to begin making coins, Superintendent Abraham Curry requested permission from Mint Director James Pollock to use the 1869-dated dies already on hand but was denied. In fact, coinage did not commence until March of 1870, though the new dies may have arrived sometime earlier. Given its low mintage, the 1870-CC half dollar was predestined to be a very scarce issue in even the lowest grades. Most survivors are found grading Very Good or lower, and examples in any higher grade are highly coveted. Fewer than half a dozen Mint State coins have been verified. In all grades, 1870-CC half dollars tend to be weakly struck on the high points of the design, including the central letters of LIBERTY on the obverse shield. The dies seem to have worn rapidly and were polished excessively, leaving little or no drapery at Liberty's left elbow. A total of five die marriages have been confirmed. These resulted from the combining of three obverse dies were a like number of reverses, all of which display a Large CC mintmark. One obverse shows slight repunching of numeral 1, but variety collecting is a moot point given the rarity of 1870-CC half dollars. All coins of this issue feature 154 edge reeds, a number not seen on 1870(P) or 1870-S halves, and this serves as a useful authentication tool.Read More
