1860

The 1860 half dime introduced the Legend Obverse subtype. Christian Gobrecht, who had designed the original Seated Liberty half dime in 1837, had died in 1844, but his design continued to evolve under subsequent Chief Engravers. The 1860 modification moved UNITED STATES OF AMERICA from the reverse (where it had been since 1837) to the obverse, arranging the inscription around the seated Liberty figure. The thirteen stars that had surrounded Liberty since 1838 were removed. The reverse now shows a cereal wreath enclosing HALF DIME, without the country name.

The change was the first major redesign of the half dime since the drapery addition in 1840. The legend on the obverse gave the coin a more modern appearance that aligned with contemporary European coinage practices, where the country name typically appeared on the obverse rather than the reverse. Philadelphia produced 798,000 Legend Obverse half dimes in 1860, a moderate first-year output.

As a first-year subtype, the 1860 has type-coin significance. Collectors assembling a complete Seated Liberty half dime type set need an example from the Legend Obverse subtype, and the 1860 is the natural choice for first-year status. The coin is common enough to be affordable in circulated grades, and Uncirculated examples are available for collectors willing to pay the quality premium.