Seated Liberty Series

The Seated Liberty Series was first introduced in 1836 in the form of silver dollars. By order of Chief Engraver William Kneass, Christian Gobrecht designed the coins based on sketches by artists Titian Peale and Thomas Sully. From the beginning, the coinage was admired not only for the exquisite artwork but also because, for many people, the coins symbolized the era of empire building which the U.S. was entering into.

Specifications

 * Designer: Obverse by Thomas Sully, executed by Christian Gobrecht; Reverse by Christian Gobrecht
 * Obverse Design: Seated Miss Liberty
 * Reverse Design: American Eagle
 * Edge: Reeded
 * Weight: ±6.7 grams
 * Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
 * Composition:  Silver (±90%), Copper (±10%)
 * Dates Minted:  1836 to 1891

Background
The obverse of the Seated Liberty half dimes, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars depicts Lady Liberty in a flowing dress sitting on a rock and holding the Union Shield. This image appeared on most U.S. regular-issue silver coinage from 1836 through 1891. A twenty cent piece was produced exclusively in the Seated Liberty design; the coin, which was produced from 1875 through 1878, was discontinued because of its similarities to the quarter. Seated Liberty coinage was minted in Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City. The first time the word “dime” appeared on U.S. coinage was on the Seated Liberty dimes.

Congress added the motto “In God We Trust” to all seated Liberty coins in 1866. They appeared in a ribbon above the eagle on the reverse of the coins. This motto was first adopted two years earlier on two-cent coins in response to the religious fervor which marked the days of the Civil War.

Seated Liberty Half Dime
The last silver half dimes minted in the U.S. were Seated Liberty half dimes. The coins were first struck in 1837 at the Philadelphia mint and were then produced in New Orleans in 1838; these coins lacked stars on the obverse. A total amount of approximately 84,828,478 were struck at the San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New Orleans mints.

Seated Liberty Dime
The 1838 Seated Liberty dime minted in New Orleans was the first ever branch mint coin – in other words, it was the first time a U.S. coin was first struck anywhere besides Philadelphia. In 1839, in commemoration of the original 13 colonies, the dimes and other Seated Liberty coinage began featuring 13 six-pointed stars around the rim.

Seated Liberty Quarter
One distinction of the Seated Liberty quarters is that they were minted for a period of 53 years, which was longer than any other denomination of the Seated Liberty series. Some mintage figures through the years were as low as in the thousands and others exceeded 10 million. The quarters were struck in New Orleans, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Carson City. There are some issues in which no uncirculated coins are known to exist.

Seated Liberty Half Dollars
Among the most valuable Seated Liberty half dollars, because of their low mintage, are the 1850, 1851, and 1852. The 1870 Carson City half dollar, which is identified by a “CC” mintmark located just under the eagle and ring, is of particularly high interest and value among numismatists.

Seated Liberty Dollars
The value of the silver in Seated Liberty dollars exceeded one dollar in 1853, which created a dilemma. As a result, the coins were removed from circulation in the U.S. and were used in the Orient as trade dollars. In 1870, the value of silver dropped, and the Seated Liberty dollars went back into circulation in the U.S. The 1870-S is the rarest of all Seated Liberty coins; less than a dozen of the coins were minted.

In 1871 and 1872, the production of Seated Liberty Dollars increased to more than a million. But a Congress-ordered reduction in the amount of silver in each coin which occurred in 1873 put the coin out of favor again.

Collecting
You have several options for where to sell Seated Liberty dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars, but it’s important to locate a coin dealer that is familiar with old and rare coins to maximize the value of your collection. Be sure to do your due diligence and identify coin dealers that have a strong reputation, including those that are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Coin dealers outside of your general vicinity or that are located in another state are also an option, which gives you the ability to sell coins online, but additional due diligence should be conducted prior to shipping your coins to a remote location.

In summary, the Seated Liberty coin type or series of coins is one that is not only valued for the beautiful design of the coins, but also for the historical significance of the coins. Additionally, some of the coins in this series are some of the most valuable U.S. silver coins ever minted. There are many great resources online and in book form for individuals that are interested in learning more about this intriguing coin series.