Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

SEATED LIBERTY HALF DIME

1837–1873
NO STARS • STARS • ARROWS • LEGEND • 1870-S RARITY NOTE
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Date
P3Common / Condition Pull
NSNo Stars
ARRArrows
LEGLegend Obverse
Ag90% silver
AUTHAuthenticate
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1P1 MONEY COINS
Date / IssuePri.What To Check
1838-O No StarsP1First New Orleans half dime; key early branch mint
1846P1Major key date
1853-O No ArrowsP1Rarity; authenticate
1863–1867 Proof-era issuesP2Low mintage Civil War dates
1870-SP1Unique/legendary rarity; not realistically found raw
1872-SP2Late S-mint condition/date pull

1838-O No Stars

1838-O No Stars placeholder

First New Orleans half dime; key early branch mint

1846

1846 placeholder

Major key date

1853-O No Arrows

1853-O No Arrows placeholder

Rarity; authenticate

1863–1867 Proof-era issues

1863–1867 Proof-era issues placeholder

Low mintage Civil War dates

2TYPE GUIDE
Type / EraYearsDiagnostic
No Stars1837–1838No stars around Liberty
Stars Obverse1838–1859Stars around Liberty
Arrows at Date1853–1855Weight-change marker
Legend Obverse1860–1873UNITED STATES legend on obverse
SEATED LIBERTY HALF DIME obverse placeholderOBVERSE
SEATED LIBERTY HALF DIME reverse placeholderREVERSE
Image note: Internet-hosted image placeholders are included. Replace with licensed/local images in production.
3KEY DATE CHART
Date / GroupPri.Notes
1838-OP1Key No Stars branch mint
1846P1Major key
1853-O No ArrowsP1Rarity
1864P2Low mintage Civil War date
1865P2Low mintage
1870-SP1Unique rarity
Sorting tip: Identify type first, then check date, mintmark/edge, surface quality, and variety diagnostics.
4STRIKE & CONDITION DIAGNOSTICS
FeaturePull If / Check
TypeNo Stars/Stars/Arrows/Legend type first
MintmarkO or S on reverse; Philadelphia no mintmark
DateCheck arrows and low-mintage years
StrikeLiberty and wreath/cereal detail
SurfacesOriginal silver
Condition rule: Original surfaces and problem-free coins usually beat cleaned or damaged examples, even on better dates.
5VARIETIES & ERROR COINS
Variety / ErrorPri.What To Look For
1853-O No ArrowsP1Weight-change rarity
1870-SP1Unique rarity note
Proof-only/low mintage datesP2Civil War era
Repunched datesP2Specialty varieties
Major errorsP2Off-center/wrong planchet
variety placeholderVARIETY CHECK
reverse diagnostic placeholderREVERSE / EDGE
6QUICK SORT CHECKLIST

CHECK FIRST

  1. 1838-O
  2. 1846
  3. 1853-O No Arrows
  4. 1864/1865
  5. 1870-S rarity note
  6. No Stars type
  7. Arrows type
  8. Legend type
  9. Original surfaces
  10. Authenticate keys
Fast workflow: type → date → mintmark/edge → weight/specs → variety → condition → authenticate P1 finds.
Authenticate: P1 rarities, famous varieties, proofs, and expensive high-grade pieces before sale.
SORT SMART. VERIFY MAJOR FINDS. NEVER CLEAN COLLECTIBLE COINS.
Primary source: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/half-dimes/liberty-seated-half-dime-1837-1873/697
Notice Updated