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1853 Arrows
| Weight | 1.24 g |
| Diameter | 15.5 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 13,210,020 Combined mintage for all 1853 Philadelphia varieties |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1085 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1853:
- 1853 No Arrows · No Arrows
External references
The 1853 Arrows half dime introduced a new weight standard and a new visible indicator of that standard. The Act of February 21, 1853, reduced the weight of the half dime from 20.625 grains (1.34 grams) to 19.200 grains (1.24 grams), a 7.5% reduction. Arrows were added to either side of the date as a marker, allowing the public and the Mint to distinguish the new lighter coins from the older heavier ones still in circulation. Philadelphia produced 13,210,020 Arrows half dimes in 1853, the largest mintage of any half dime ever struck between 1794 and 1873. The previous high had been 2,760,000 in 1835, meaning the 1853 Arrows output was nearly five times the previous record.
The weight reduction solved the bullion-value problem. With less silver in each coin, the face value exceeded the metal value, and Americans stopped hoarding and melting silver coinage. The Arrows half dimes circulated freely, replacing the older heavier coins that were gradually withdrawn from circulation and melted for their silver content.
The 1853 Arrows is the most common Seated Liberty half dime by mintage and one of the easiest dates to acquire in any grade. Type collectors looking for a single Arrows half dime almost always choose the 1853 Philadelphia issue for its combination of affordability, availability, and historical significance as the first year of the new weight standard.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | — | — |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | — | — |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | — | — |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How many 1853 Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dimes were minted?
What is a 1853 Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime made of?
What is the melt value of a 1853 Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime?
Is the 1853 Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime a key date?
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