Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Arrows at Date (1854-1855) | CoinWeek

Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Arrows at Date: History, Value, Design, and Coin Specifications

By CoinWeek Notes

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Arrows at the Date tells an important story in American coinage. It also reflects a major economic shock that followed the California Gold Rush.

Gold flowed into the market in huge quantities. As a result, the gold-to-silver ratio moved sharply. Silver became more expensive compared to gold. Soon, speculators saw an easy profit. They could melt silver coins and convert the bullion into gold coins.

Because of this, the United States faced a serious coin shortage. Old copper coins, Three-Cent Silver billon coins, and gold coins filled daily commerce. However, silver coins began to vanish.

Why the U.S. Mint Changed the Liberty Seated Half Dollar

United States Mint Director George N. Eckert wanted to stop the melting of silver coins. Therefore, he asked Congress to reduce the silver content of every silver coin denomination except the dollar.

Congress agreed. It passed the Coinage Act of February 21, 1853.

The Act reduced the weight of the half dollar from 13.36 grams to 12.44 grams. That reduction kept newly struck coins out of the crucible.

However, the Mint needed a way to show the public that the new half dollars carried less silver than the older pieces. So, the Mint added arrows to each side of the date on the obverse. It also added rays around the eagle on the reverse.

Why the Rays Disappeared After 1853

The arrows and rays created a clear visual difference. However, they also created a technical problem.

The added design elements caused excessive die wear. They also led to early die failure. Therefore, the Mint removed the rays in 1854.

That change created the Liberty Seated Half Dollar, No Motto, Arrows at Date, No Rays type.

By 1856, Mint officials believed the public had enough time to adjust to the new tenor. So, the Mint restored the reverse die to its pre-1853 design. Still, it continued to strike half dollars at the new lower weight.

The half dollar saw no additional design changes until 1866. That year, Congress required the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the coin.

How Much Are Liberty Seated Half Dollars With Arrows at the Date Worth?

Despite their age, 1854 Liberty Seated Half Dollars remain affordable in many grades. They date back about 170 years. They also contain .900 silver. Even so, collectors can find them in all circulated grades.

A Good to Very Good example with minimal impairment will usually sell for no more than $60.

Examples in Extra Fine show most of the coin’s design elements. These coins usually cost about $120 to $140. They also offer strong eye appeal for collectors who enjoy visible detail.

Coins in About Uncirculated condition cost more. In many cases, they sell for double or more than the price of an Extra Fine example. However, they often look brighter. They also show only slight wear. Therefore, they work well for picky collectors who do not want to pay the premium for Choice or Gem Mint State coins.

Mint State Examples and Certified Populations

Mint State examples do not qualify as rare in the strictest sense. However, collectors should understand the certified population.

The three major grading services; CAC, NGC, and PCGS,  have combined to certify fewer than 400 examples from each of the two common dates, 1854 and 1854-O.

This helps explain the market. Prices for MS63 1854 or 1854-O Liberty Seated Half Dollars often double the price of AU58 coins.

Even among the common dates, Gems remain scarce. As a result, the market prices them accordingly.

Better Dates and Rare Issues

Higher-priced coins include the 1855/1854 variety. Collectors and references also list this coin as 1855/854 and 1855/54.

The 1855-S also ranks among the key coins of this short-lived type. It becomes extremely rare in Mint State.

Proof versions of the Liberty Seated Half Dollar, No Motto, Arrows at Date, No Rays type also exist. The Mint struck them in limited quantities. These coins remain rare. Unimpaired examples command prices over $40,000.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Certified Mint State or Proof Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Arrows at Date]

Extended Coverage of the Arrows at Date Liberty Seated Half Dollar on CoinWeek

CoinWeek has published additional coverage on this important Liberty Seated type.

Why Some Liberty Seated Coins Have Arrows by the Date

Writing for PCGS, CoinWeek contributor Josh McMorrow-Hernandez explains the origins of the arrow “privy marks” by the date in greater detail.

Counterfeit Detection

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1854-O Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dollar

NGC analyzes a counterfeit 1854-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar that the company’s graders encountered. The article also offers detection tips for collectors.

Liberty Seated Half Dollar Design

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Arrows at the Date carries one of the most familiar designs in 19th-century United States coinage.

Obverse Design

The obverse shows Lady Liberty seated on a rock. She wears flowing robes. Her head turns back to her right.

• Long locks of curled hair cascade down her back and across her shoulder. A barely visible band ties the hair.
• Liberty bends her left arm and holds a pole topped by a liberty cap. Her extended right arm supports a Union shield. The shield leans against the rock.
• A curved banner crosses the center of the shield. It carries the word LIBERTY.
• Thirteen six-pointed stars form a circle around the top two-thirds of the coin. A denticulated rim surrounds the design.
• Seven stars appear to Liberty’s left. Five stars appear to her right. One star sits between Liberty’s head and the liberty cap.
• The date appears at the bottom center. A short arrowhead appears on each side of the date.

Reverse Design

The reverse shows a centered, left-facing eagle. The eagle displays extended but partly folded wings.

• It clutches three arrows in its left claw. It holds an olive branch in its right claw. However, the design shows fletching for only two of the three arrows.
• A shield covers the eagle’s chest.
• The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA forms a concentric arc inside the top two-thirds of the denticulated rim. The denomination HALF DOL. appears at the bottom and visually completes the circle.

Mintmarks and Mints

The Mint produced Liberty Seated Half Dollars, No Motto, With Arrows, No Rays at Philadelphia and New Orleans in 1854 and 1855. It also produced the type at San Francisco in 1855.

The O and S mintmarks appear on the reverse. They sit below the eagle and above the denomination.

Philadelphia coins show no mintmark.

Edge – The Liberty Seated Half Dollar has a reeded edge.

Varieties

Specialists identify a few varieties for this type. The most significant variety is the 1855 Over 1854.

This overdate exists in both business strike and Proof configurations.

Specifications

• Coin Type: Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Arrows at Date
• Years of Issue: 1854-55
• Mintage: Business Strikes High: 5,240,000 for 1854-O; Low: 129,950 for 1855-S
• Mintage: Proofs High: 30 for 1854, estimated; Low: 15 for 1855, estimated
• Alloy: .900 silver, .100 copper
• Weight: 12.44 g
• Diameter: 30.60 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Designer: Christian Gobrecht, from a Thomas Sully drawing; modified by Robert Ball Hughes and James B. Longacre

Additional References

• Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting and Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.
• Bowers, Q. David. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins. Whitman Publishing.
• Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.
• Dannreuther, John W., and Harry W. Bass, Jr. Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties; A Study of Die States, 1795-1834. Whitman Publishing.
• Guth, Ron, and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.
• Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Arco Publishing.
• Wiley, Randy, and Bill Bugert. The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars. DLRC Press.
• Yeoman, R.S., and Jeff Garrett, editor. The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.