Seated Liberty Half Dimes

Christian Gobrecht designed the Seated Liberty half dime, part of a broader redesign that eventually placed the same basic motif on every silver denomination from the half dime to the dollar. Gobrecht had been doing most of the Mint's engraving work since William Kneass's stroke in 1835, and his Seated Liberty figure, depicting Liberty seated on a rock holding a pole with a Phrygian cap, was adapted from designs by painter Thomas Sully and engraver Titian Peale. How much of the final product belonged to Gobrecht versus Sully versus Peale has been debated without a clear resolution. Breen attributed the concept primarily to Sully with Gobrecht executing the die work, while others have given Gobrecht more creative credit. The seated figure first appeared on the 1836 Gobrecht dollar and migrated to the half dime in 1837. Gobrecht would not be formally appointed Chief Engraver until 1840, but by 1837 he was the Mint's most capable artist by a considerable margin, and everyone involved seems to have known it.

1837–1873 Years struck

116 Date / variety entries

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Key date Semi-key Variety Proof Regular

Date	Variety	Mintage	Price Guide Estimates							Classification	CK #
Date	Variety	Mintage	G	VG	F	VF	EF	AU	MS	Classification	CK #
1837	Seated, Large Date	1,405,000	$38	$49	$68	$117	$205	$365	$470	REGULAR	CK-1035
1837	Seated, Small Date	1,405,000	$38	$49	$78	$117	$205	$365	$470	REGULAR	CK-1036
1838	No Drapery, Large Stars	2,255,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	REGULAR	CK-1038
1838	Small Stars	2,255,000	$26	$38	$61	$143	$205	$305	$495	REGULAR	CK-1039
1838-O	—	70,000	$143	$205	$400	$775	$2,005	$3,215	$4,765	SEMI-KEY	CK-1040
1839	No Drapery	1,069,150	$22	$26	$29	$41	$81	$148	$225	REGULAR	CK-1042
1839-O	—	1,034,000	$26	$29	$38	$78	$163	$265	$775	REGULAR	CK-1043
1840	Drapery	1,344,085	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	REGULAR	CK-1045
1840	No Drapery	1,344,085	$22	$26	$29	$38	$81	$148	$225	REGULAR	CK-1047
1840-O	Drapery	935,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	SEMI-KEY	CK-1048
1840-O	No Drapery	935,000	$61	$102	$163	$225	$400	$515	$1,295	REGULAR	CK-1049
1841	—	1,150,000	$22	$24	$29	$34	$61	$122	$156	REGULAR	CK-1050
1841-O	—	815,000	$61	$81	$136	$184	$285	$435	$810	REGULAR	CK-1052
1842	—	815,000	$22	$26	$29	$34	$61	$122	$205	REGULAR	CK-1053
1842-O	—	350,000	$61	$95	$184	$285	$515	$775	$1,090	REGULAR	CK-1055
1843	—	1,165,000	$22	$29	$38	$49	$75	$128	$184	REGULAR	CK-1056
1844	—	430,000	$22	$26	$29	$46	$68	$122	$225	REGULAR	CK-1059
1844-O	—	220,000	$78	$163	$265	$605	$990	$2,230	$4,440	SEMI-KEY	CK-1060
1845	—	1,564,000	$22	$26	$29	$34	$54	$117	$184	REGULAR	CK-1061
1846	—	27,000	$695	$1,015	$1,325	$1,840	$3,395	$6,065	$9,910	KEY	CK-1064
1847	—	1,274,000	$22	$26	$29	$61	$81	$122	$184	REGULAR	CK-1066
1848	Large Date	668,000	$29	$41	$67	$122	$156	$285	$605	REGULAR	CK-1068
1848	Medium Date	668,000	$22	$26	$34	$49	$78	$147	$230	REGULAR	CK-1069
1848-O	—	600,000	$26	$29	$41	$81	$168	$265	$515	REGULAR	CK-1070
1849	—	1,309,000	$26	$29	$34	$49	$81	$143	$215	REGULAR	CK-1072
1849	9 Over 6	—	$29	$41	$61	$98	$163	$285	$560	VARIETY	CK-1073
1849	9 Over Widely Placed 6	—	$41	$58	$81	$122	$225	$300	$505	VARIETY	CK-1074
1849-O	—	140,000	$67	$87	$163	$245	$495	$875	$1,760	REGULAR	CK-1075
1850	—	955,000	$22	$26	$34	$49	$75	$147	$174	REGULAR	CK-1076
1850-O	—	690,000	$26	$34	$49	$81	$163	$225	$540	REGULAR	CK-1078
1851	—	781,000	$22	$26	$29	$34	$61	$116	$156	REGULAR	CK-1079
1851-O	—	860,000	$22	$26	$29	$41	$88	$189	$365	REGULAR	CK-1080
1852	—	1,000,500	$22	$24	$26	$34	$61	$116	$156	REGULAR	CK-1081
1852-O	—	260,000	$26	$34	$61	$122	$225	$400	$775	SEMI-KEY	CK-1083
1853	Arrows	13,210,020	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	REGULAR	CK-1085
1853	No Arrows	13,210,020	$49	$68	$122	$184	$265	$400	$605	SEMI-KEY	CK-1086
1853-O	Arrows	2,200,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	REGULAR	CK-1087
1853-O	No Arrows	2,200,000	$285	$470	$715	$1,180	$2,230	$3,215	$6,895	KEY	CK-1088
1854	Arrows	5,740,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$54	$122	$163	REGULAR	CK-1089
1854-O	Arrows	1,560,000	$21	$24	$29	$38	$74	$163	$245	REGULAR	CK-1091
1855	Arrows	1,750,000	$21	$24	$26	$29	$61	$122	$168	REGULAR	CK-1093
1855-O	Arrows	600,000	$26	$34	$46	$68	$163	$300	$695	REGULAR	CK-1094
1856	—	4,880,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$49	$95	$143	REGULAR	CK-1095
1856-O	—	1,100,000	$21	$26	$29	$46	$107	$230	$435	REGULAR	CK-1097
1857	—	7,280,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$49	$95	$143	REGULAR	CK-1098
1857-O	—	1,380,000	$21	$26	$29	$38	$66	$143	$245	REGULAR	CK-1100
1858	—	3,500,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$49	$102	$136	REGULAR	CK-1101
1858	Over Inverted Date	—	$34	$49	$81	$122	$205	$285	$650	VARIETY	CK-1103
1858-O	—	1,660,000	$21	$26	$29	$41	$66	$127	$196	REGULAR	CK-1104
1859	—	340,000	$21	$22	$26	$38	$66	$107	$163	REGULAR	CK-1106
1859-O	—	560,000	$26	$38	$54	$74	$136	$184	$230	REGULAR	CK-1107
1860	—	799,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	$2,365	REGULAR	CK-1108
1860-O	—	1,060,000	$21	$24	$26	$38	$66	$98	$136	REGULAR	CK-1110
1861	—	3,361,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$58	$98	$128	REGULAR	CK-1111
1861	1 Over 0	—	$29	$38	$41	$74	$163	$265	$415	VARIETY	CK-1113
1862	—	1,492,550	$26	$29	$38	$46	$58	$81	$128	REGULAR	CK-1114
1863	—	18,460	$163	$225	$260	$345	$470	$605	$670	KEY	CK-1117
1863-S	—	100,000	$38	$49	$81	$163	$245	$325	$605	REGULAR	CK-1118
1864	—	48,470	$265	$345	$540	$695	$875	$940	$1,040	KEY	CK-1120
1864-S	—	90,000	$68	$102	$163	$225	$365	$605	$875	SEMI-KEY	CK-1121
1865	—	13,500	$285	$380	$435	$605	$735	$940	$1,040	KEY	CK-1123
1865-S	—	120,000	$41	$66	$102	$163	$285	$435	$875	REGULAR	CK-1124
1866	—	10,725	$265	$325	$400	$515	$695	$810	$875	KEY	CK-1126
1866-S	—	120,000	$38	$49	$74	$122	$184	$265	$400	REGULAR	CK-1127
1867	—	8,625	$365	$415	$495	$605	$695	$810	$940	KEY	CK-1129
1867-S	—	120,000	$38	$46	$61	$81	$205	$275	$450	REGULAR	CK-1130
1868	—	89,600	$46	$54	$98	$148	$265	$380	$540	SEMI-KEY	CK-1132
1868-S	—	280,000	$21	$24	$34	$41	$68	$117	$255	REGULAR	CK-1133
1869	—	208,600	$26	$34	$41	$58	$87	$143	$225	SEMI-KEY	CK-1135
1869-S	—	230,000	$26	$34	$41	$74	$122	$205	$275	REGULAR	CK-1136
1870	—	536,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$38	$66	$143	REGULAR	CK-1137
1870-S	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$3,717,435	KEY	CK-1139
1871	—	1,873,960	$21	$26	$29	$34	$38	$66	$122	REGULAR	CK-1140
1871-S	—	161,000	$21	$26	$34	$54	$66	$147	$205	REGULAR	CK-1142
1872	—	2,947,950	$21	$22	$24	$27	$38	$66	$122	REGULAR	CK-1144
1872-S	Mintmark Above Bow	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-1145
1872-S	Mintmark Below Bow	837,000	$21	$26	$29	$38	$46	$81	$147	REGULAR	CK-1146
1873	—	712,600	$21	$26	$29	$34	$38	$66	$122	REGULAR	CK-1147
1873-S	—	324,000	$21	$26	$29	$34	$54	$102	$122	REGULAR	CK-1149

1837 Seated, Large Date 1837 Seated, Small Date 1838 No Drapery, Large Stars 1838 Small Stars 1838-O 1839 No Drapery 1839-O 1840 Drapery 1840 No Drapery 1840-O Drapery 1840-O No Drapery 1841 1841-O 1842 1842-O 1843 1844 1844-O 1845 1846 1847 1848 Large Date 1848 Medium Date 1848-O 1849 1849 9 Over 6 1849 9 Over Widely Placed 6 1849-O 1850 1850-O 1851 1851-O 1852 1852-O 1853 Arrows 1853 No Arrows 1853-O Arrows 1853-O No Arrows 1854 Arrows 1854-O Arrows 1855 Arrows 1855-O Arrows 1856 1856-O 1857 1857-O 1858 1858 Over Inverted Date 1858-O 1859 1859-O 1860 1860-O 1861 1861 1 Over 0 1862 1863 1863-S 1864 1864-S 1865 1865-S 1866 1866-S 1867 1867-S 1868 1868-S 1869 1869-S 1870 1870-S 1871 1871-S 1872 1872-S Mintmark Above Bow 1872-S Mintmark Below Bow 1873 1873-S

Date	Variety	Mintage	Price Guide Estimates							Classification	CK #
Date	Variety	Mintage	G (PR)	VG (PR)	F (PR)	VF (PR)	EF (PR)	AU (PR)	MS (PR)	Classification	CK #
1837	Seated	1,405,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1034
1838	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1037
1839	No Drapery	1,069,150	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1041
1840	Drapery	1,344,085	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1044
1840	No Drapery	1,344,085	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1046
1841	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1051
1842	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1054
1843	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1057
1844	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1058
1845	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1062
1846	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1063
1847	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1065
1848	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1067
1849	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1071
1850	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1077
1852	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1082
1853	Arrows	13,210,020	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1084
1854	Arrows	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1090
1855	Arrows	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1092
1856	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1096
1857	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1099
1858	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1102
1859	—	800	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1105
1860	—	1,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1109
1861	—	1,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1112
1862	—	550	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1115
1863	—	460	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1116
1864	—	470	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1119
1865	—	500	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1122
1866	—	725	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1125
1867	—	625	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1128
1868	—	600	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1131
1869	—	600	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1134
1870	—	1,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1138
1871	—	960	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1141
1872	—	950	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1143
1873	—	600	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-1148