As an eBay Affiliate, Collector's Key may be compensated if you make a purchase through the link(s) above.
1853 No Arrows
| Weight | 1.34 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-1086 |
Collection
Your collection
Sign in to track this coin.
One tap — add details later from your collection list.
The 1853 No Arrows half dime was struck during the first half of the year, before Congress passed the Act of February 21, 1853, which reduced the weight of silver coins and added arrows at the date as an indicator of the new standard. Coins struck with the old weight and without arrows in 1853 are a small, distinct subtype within the year. Philadelphia produced only 135,000 No Arrows half dimes before transitioning to the reduced-weight Arrows version, making the No Arrows a semi-key within the 1853 production.
The weight reduction was driven by the gold-silver price ratio. California gold had flooded the market and pushed silver's relative value up, meaning silver coins were worth more melted than in face value. Americans began hoarding and melting silver coinage, and the Mint's response was to reduce the silver content slightly so that the face value exceeded the bullion value and the coins could circulate freely. The arrows at the date served as a visible signal that these were the new, lighter coins.
The 1853 No Arrows is scarcer than the Arrows version by a factor of about 100 (135,000 versus 13,210,020 coins). Surviving No Arrows examples are available in circulated grades but command a meaningful premium. The coin represents the old weight standard at its final appearance, and type collectors pursuing complete Seated Liberty subtypes need a No Arrows example to represent the pre-reduction design.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $49 | $56 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $68 | $79 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $122 | $141 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $184 | $210 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $265 | $305 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $400 | $460 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $605 | $700 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $1,230 | $1,300 |
How much is a 1853 No Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime worth?
How many 1853 No Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dimes were minted?
What is a 1853 No Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime made of?
What is the melt value of a 1853 No Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime?
Is the 1853 No Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dime a key date?
Live listings from eBay. As an eBay Affiliate, Collector's Key may be compensated if you click a link and make a purchase. See all on eBay →
It is important that you educate yourself on a coin before making a substantial purchase, as some coins on eBay could be counterfeit or misrepresented. eBay Money Back Guarantee protects the buyer in these cases.