Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

SEATED LIBERTY HALF DOLLAR

1839–1891
NO DRAPERY • DRAPERY • ARROWS/RAYS • MOTTO • CARSON CITY • 1878-S
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Date
P3Common / Condition Pull
CCCarson City
NDNo Drapery
ARRArrows/Rays
MOTTOIN GOD WE TRUST
Ag90% silver
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1P1 MONEY COINS
Date / IssuePri.What To Check
1853-O No Arrows/RaysP1Major rarity
1855-SP2First San Francisco half dollar
1866-S No MottoP1Major transition rarity
1870-CCP1First Carson City half dollar
1871-CCP1CC key
1878-SP1Major rarity

1853-O No Arrows/Rays

1853-O No Arrows/Rays placeholder

Major rarity

1855-S

1855-S placeholder

First San Francisco half dollar

1866-S No Motto

1866-S No Motto placeholder

Major transition rarity

1870-CC

1870-CC placeholder

First Carson City half dollar

2TYPE GUIDE
Type / EraYearsDiagnostic
No Drapery1839No drapery at Liberty’s elbow
With Drapery1839–1891Drapery added
Arrows/Rays1853Weight-change marker
Arrows1854–1855, 1873–1874Arrows at date
With Motto1866–1891IN GOD WE TRUST on reverse
SEATED LIBERTY HALF DOLLAR obverse placeholderOBVERSE
SEATED LIBERTY HALF DOLLAR reverse placeholderREVERSE
Image note: Internet-hosted image placeholders are included. Replace with licensed/local images in production.
3KEY DATE CHART
Date / GroupPri.Notes
1853-O No Arrows/RaysP1Rarity
1866-S No MottoP1Transition rarity
1870-CCP1CC key
1871-CCP1CC key
1878-SP1Major rarity
1880s low mintage proofs/businessP2Check all
Sorting tip: Identify type first, then check date, mintmark/edge, surface quality, and variety diagnostics.
4STRIKE & CONDITION DIAGNOSTICS
FeaturePull If / Check
TypeDrapery/arrows/motto checks
MintmarkO, S, or CC on reverse
DateCheck arrows and rare transitions
StrikeLiberty, shield, eagle breast feathers
SurfacesOriginal gray 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 Arrows/RaysP1Weight-change rarity
1866-S No MottoP1Motto transition rarity
1878-SP1Major rarity
Arrows datesP2Weight-change issues
CC mintmarksP1/P2Always pull
variety placeholderVARIETY CHECK
reverse diagnostic placeholderREVERSE / EDGE
6QUICK SORT CHECKLIST

CHECK FIRST

  1. 1853-O No Arrows/Rays
  2. 1855-S
  3. 1866-S No Motto
  4. 1870-CC
  5. 1871-CC
  6. 1878-S
  7. All CC halves
  8. Arrows dates
  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-dollars/liberty-seated-half-dollar-1839-1891/713
Notice Updated