An O-Mint Rarity, Gorgeous and Toned: The 1860-O Liberty Seated Half Dime NGC MS-67*

By CoinWeek…

Type Set collectors take note, GreatCollections is offering an attractively-toned condition census 1860-O Liberty Seated Half Dime in its November 16, 2025 sale.

1860 marked the final year of unimpeded coin production for the New Orleans Mint before the outbreak of the Civil War. Secessionist sentiment was growing in the Southern port city over growing fears of Lincoln’s election and violent skirmishes along abolitionist and pro-slavery factions starting with Bleeding Kansas and culminating in John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry caused unease across the South.

In February 1861, the state government seized the Mint and its bullion holdings, only to turn it over to the Confederate government in April 1861. For this specimen to survive in Superb Gem condition, not just through the war, when precious metals coinage was dear, but in the 160 years that came after borders on miraculous.

This example is one of five that NGC has graded at the MS67 level, and carries the NGC star designation, which  confirms that this specific specimen possesses truly exceptional visual merit that sets it apart from its peers.

The New Orleans struck 1,060,000 Liberty Seated Half Dimes in 1860. This is a far cry from the rare 1860-O dime, which likely counts fewer than 400 surviving examples from a paltry mintage of just 40,000 pieces. That coin is largely out of reach to most collectors, but an 1860-O Half Dime, especially one in the state of preservation can likely be had for under $10,000. Making it bargain.

The GreatCollections sale ends on November 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM (PST). Current bid is $2,050.

* * *

Want more stories like this? Sign up for the CoinWeek newsletter and never miss a rare discovery, auction highlight, or collector deep-dive.