Coin Specifications

The Liberty Seated Half Dollar design was used from 1839 to 1891, representing the longest duration that a design has remained in use for the denomination. Although the basic design remained the same, there were a number of small design modifications, as well as changes tot he weight and corresponding silver content of the coins.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the Seated Liberty Half Dollar features a portrayal of Lady Liberty seated on a rock holding a pole with a liberty cap on top. Her other hand holds a shield bearing the word “Liberty”. The reverse features an eagle with a shield at its chest and an olive branch and bundle of arrows in its talons. Design modifications including adding and removing arrows around the date, rays around the eagle, and the permanent addition of the motto “In God We Trust” on a banner above the eagle.

The arrows and rays mentioned as design changes actually represented changes to the standard silver content within the denomination. From 1853 to 1873, the weight of the coins was lowered from 13.37 grams to 12.4 grams, as the rising price of silver created the possibility of mass melting. The silver content was increased slightly from 1873 until the end of the series in 1891 to 12.5 grams, which would also carry over to the subsequent Barber Half Dollars series.

Seated Liberty Half Dollars were struck at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco Mint facilities. A number of low mintage rarities exist for some of the branch mint issues.

Seated Liberty Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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After initially being produced in a composition of 90% silver for more than 30 years, the composition of the Washington Quarter was changed to copper-nickel clad starting in 1965. This change also occurred for the dime, and the silver content of the half dollar was lowered. For the first three years that clad quarters were issued, no mint marks were used to prevent hoarding. In the following years, the Denver Mint would use the “D” mint mark and the San Francisco Mint would use the “S” mint mark for the proof issues produced there. The Philadelphia Mint began using the “P” mint mark on coins starting in 1980.

Clad composition Washington Quarters consist of an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel, bonded to a core of pure copper. This yields an overall composition of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.

Clad Washington Quarter Coin Specifications

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Capped Bust Half Dollars represented the third design for the denomination, following the short lived Flowing Hair and Draped Bust designs. The present series was minted for a significantly longer duration from 1807 to 1839 and in generally higher numbers. Many coins of the series remain available for collectors in circulated condition, although gem examples and certain varieties can be extremely rare.

John Reich was the designer of the Capped Bust Half Dollar, which features a rendition of Liberty facing left. She wears a cap bearing the word “Liberty” with locks of curled hair falling to shoulder length. Thirteen stars surround with the date below. The reverse of the coin features an eagle with wings outstretched and talons grasping a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. A scroll contains the inscription “E Pluribus Unum”, the words “United States of America” and the denomination surround. The design was later modified by Christian Gobrecht for the final years of the series.

Specifications for the series were initially 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper with a weight of 13.48 grams and diameter of 32.5 mm. The edge was lettered with the denomination. With the change to a reeded edge in 1836, the specifications were changed to 90% silver and 10% copper with a weight of 13.36 grams and diameter of 30 mm. Coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and the New Orleans Mint in the last year of the series.

Capped Bust Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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The American Silver Eagle was introduced in 1986 as the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It has become popular worldwide with precious metals investors as well as collectors. Each coin contains one ounce of .999 fine silver. The obverse design of the coins is taken from Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the reverse of the coins features a heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti.

The US Mint issues the bullion version of the coin to a network of authorized purchasers based on the spot price of silver plus a fixed mark up. Traditionally, collectible versions of the coin have also been made available for purchase directly from the Mint. From 1986 to 2008, proof Silver Eagles were produced and sold in quantity. In recent years, the heavy demand for bullion coins has resulted in a suspension of collector offerings.

During the course of the series and across bullion and collector versions, American Silver Eagles have been produced at the West Point, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mint facilities. Coins have been produced in bullion version, collectible proof, collectible uncirculated, and reverse proof.

American Silver Eagle Coin Specifications

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The first half dollars produced in America were authorized by the Act of April 2, 1792. The design for the Flowing Hair Half Dollar was the same as the half dimes and silver dollars issued in the first year. Although the Flowing Hair Silver Dollars usually get most of the attention, the half dollar denomination is important and rare in its own right.

The coins were minted for only two years from 1794 to 1795. As specified by the Act, the composition was 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. The weight of the coins is 13.48 grams, although variance is possible. In the early days of the mint, some overweight planchets were filed and underweight planchets could be plugged. As a result, some surviving Flowing Hair Half Dollars show adjustment marks or silver plugs, although these are not usually detrimental to the collectible value of this important series.

Flowing Hair Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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