Liberty Seated half dimes carry the silver five-cent denomination through stars, drapery, arrows, wreath changes, branch mints, and the denomination's 1873 conclusion.
This page covers the catalog's seven 1837–1873 types, including transitional patterns. Nickel five-cent pieces remain a separate denomination and design family.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1837–1873
- Catalog mints
- 3
- Reported catalog mintage
- 84,830,116
- Composition
- 90% Silver - 10% Copper
- Diameter
- 15.5 mm
- Weight
- Varies by type
A small silver coin through monetary reform
Christian Gobrecht's seated Liberty began without obverse stars, then gained stars and drapery. The reduced weight of 1853 was signaled by arrows beside the date, making design details part of the monetary standard.
New Orleans and San Francisco joined Philadelphia in the issue record. The silver half dime continued beside the base-metal nickel until the Coinage Act of 1873 ended the denomination.
Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type
Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.
The main portrait and date
Liberty sits on a rock holding a shield and liberty pole; stars, drapery, arrows, and later UNITED STATES OF AMERICA distinguish the major types.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
HALF DIME sits within a wreath. The wreath and surrounding inscriptions change when the national legend moves from the reverse to the obverse.
Where the cataloged coins were made
Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.
- P — Philadelphia: 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873; 66,168,115. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
- O — New Orleans: 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1844, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860; 16,280,000. Confirm the O mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
- S — San Francisco: 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873; 2,382,001. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
Representative issues that explain the series
A major-type set explains the design and weight changes before a collector attempts branch mints, transitional pieces, or a complete date set.
- 1837 P - Small Date — 1,405,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1838 O — 70,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1846 P — 27,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1853 O - No Arrows — 160,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1870 S - Unique — 1. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences
The current catalog records 3 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.
The issue catalog keeps all 3 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.
Issue catalog
From one type coin to a complete catalog
- One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
- Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
- Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
- Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.
A note on catalog records
This page uses 81 issue records, 3 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.
Sources
- The Evolution of Liberty on U.S. Coins — United States Mint
- Dime: Designs and History — United States Mint
- Liberty Seated Half Dime category reference — PCGS CoinFacts