1859 Liberty Seated Dollar : History & Value

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

In 1859, silver mines in Arizona have been absolutely on-line, with steel shipped west and east. Additionally, it was on this 12 months that the Comstock Lode grew to become recognized, sparking a rush of miners to the Utah Territory.

The Philadelphia Mint didn’t strike silver greenback cash in 1858 however resumed manufacturing in 1859 with a sturdy output of 256,500. Most, if not all, of this mintage was earmarked for export and paid out to retailers in India and China. It’s additionally potential that some portion of this mintage was melted down in 1861, because the Mint repurposed tens of hundreds of silver {dollars} into subsidiary silver cash.

Enterprise strike manufacturing for the 1859 Liberty Seated Greenback commenced on April 18 and concluded on December 10. The mintage was paid out in 13 deliveries, most of which occurred in October. The Mint’s die data point out that three obverse and 5 reverse dies have been ready, however not all have been used.

Along with the 256,500 enterprise strike 1859 Liberty Seated {Dollars}, the Philadelphia Mint additionally produced 800 Proof strikings for collectors. The attrition fee for the enterprise strikes is significantly increased than that of the Proofs and whereas Proofs graded 65 and above quantity over 50, Mint State cash at 65 or higher quantity solely two or three.

In About Uncirculated, examples promote for $2,000 and up.

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1859 Liberty Seated Greenback Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens

High Inhabitants: PCGS MS66+ (1, 11/2024), NGC MS64 (15, 11/2024), and CAC MS66 (2:0 stickered:graded, 11/2024).

• PCGS MS66+ #37919035: PCGS consumer SeatedCrazy. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Stunning inexperienced, brown, and blue firming.
• PCGS MS65 #21572847: As PCGS MS64. Heritage Auctions, March 21, 2003, Lot 6144 – $10,925. As PCGS MS65 #21572847. Dell Loy Hansen. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Upgraded by one level. Irregularly formed firming splotch on the proper aspect of the obverse. Lustrous. 
• PCGS MS64+ #25596541: As PCGS MS64 #21572846. “The Jack Lee Assortment, Half III,” Heritage Auctions, November 3, 2005, Lot 2218 – $9,200. “The Malibu Assortment,” Bowers and Merena, November 2010, Lot 2267. As PCGS MS64+ #25596541. “The M&S Petty Assortment,” Legend Uncommon Coin Auctions, July 28, 2022, Lot 247 – $20,562.50. Upgraded by one-half level. Sterling-Legend on insert. Darkly toned with orange facilities with antiqued slate-blue-green firming alongside the periphery.
• PCGS MS64 #07304996: Del Loy Hansen; Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Cobalt firming alongside the left obverse periphery. Peach firming all through.
• PCGS MS64 CAC #82608329: “The Greenwich Assortment,” Bowers and Merena, January 1991, Lot 1831; Legend Numismatics, February 2007; As PCGS MS64 CAC #05975140. Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30599 – $15,275. As PCGS MS64 CAC #82608329. Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. Peach firming all through. Darker on the base.
• PCGS MS64 CAC #27400194: As NGC MS64 #2018790-022. “The Fenn Household Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, February 7, 2013, Lot 3863 – $8,812.50. As PCGS MS64 CAC #27400194. Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2014, Lot 4905 – $11,162.50. Darkly toned in gold, orange, and purple. Purple firming round date. Darkish smudge to the left of stars 12 and 13.
• NGC MS64 CAC #3166287-007: Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2014, Lot 4904 – $9,400; Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2015, Lot 5333 – $8,812.50; “The Mesquite Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2017, Lot 3439 – $7,637.50. OC-2. Sensible. Head on higher stars flatly struck.
• NGC MS64 CAC #451408-005: Heritage Auctions, October 23, 2008, Lot 1108 – $12,650. Rim firming.
• PCGS MS64 #5487164: “The Morris Silverman Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, April 25, 2002, Lot 4049 – $12,650.
• NGC MS64: “The Indiana Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, Could 4, 2000, Lot 5013 – $8,912.50. Gold firming all through.

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Design

Obverse:

The obverse options Liberty seated on a rock in classical flowing robes, her head turned to the proper (viewer’s left). Liberty’s left arm is bent, her raised hand holding a Liberty pole with a cap. The correct arm is prolonged downward at her aspect, with the hand balancing a defend with the phrase LIBERTY displayed in a curving banner. 13 six-pointed stars encompass the seated determine inside a denticulated rim – seven on the left aspect, one between Liberty’s head and the cap, and the remaining 5 alongside the proper. The date 1859 is on the backside between the bottom of the rock and the rim.

Reverse:

On the reverse, an eagle is displayed prominently inside a denticulated rim. The eagle’s wings are partly unfold however folded downward on the joint as if the majestic chicken had simply landed or maybe as an alternative is getting ready to fly away. An olive department is within the dexter claw (viewer’s left); the sinister claw clutches three arrows. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the highest two-thirds of the coin contained in the rim, with the denomination ONE DOL. centered on the backside.

Edge:

The sting of the 1859 Liberty Seated Greenback is reeded.

1859 Liberty Seated Greenback Coin Specs

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References

Julian, R.W. “The Silver Greenback, 1853-1873”, Numismatic Scrapbook Journal. August 1964. 2124-2128. Information compiled and analyzed from the Nationwide Archives.
 

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