1855 Arrows

The 1855 Arrows half dollar marks the closing chapter of one of the most consequential design experiments of the antebellum Mint: the brief window in which arrows flanking the date signaled that a silver coin had been deliberately lightened. The Coinage Act of February 21, 1853 cut the half dollar's weight from 206.25 grains to 192 grains, or 12.44 grams, in response to a silver shortage driven by California and Australian gold strikes that pushed bullion values above face value. Arrows were added in 1853 as a visible cue, retained through 1854 and 1855, then quietly retired once the public had absorbed the change. The 1855 Philadelphia mintage of 759,500 pieces is moderate by Seated Liberty standards and represents a sharp drop from 1854's nearly 2.98 million coins under the same subtype, reflecting reduced demand once the early backfill of light-weight silver was complete. As the second and final year of the Type 3 No Motto Arrows subtype, the 1855 occupies a defined endpoint that type collectors and date specialists pursue with intent.

Strike quality on 1855 Philadelphia Arrows halves is generally above the series average, with Liberty's head, the shield's vertical lines, and the eagle's claws typically rendered with crisp definition. Softness, when present, appears at the centers of the obverse stars and on the eagle's neck feathers, where metal flow had to compete with the date arrows on the opposing die. The coin is most often encountered in Very Fine through About Uncirculated; Mint State examples exist but are condition-scarce, and gems with full luster are genuinely difficult. Attribution is straightforward: arrows flanking an 1855 date with no mintmark, paired with a plain reverse free of rays or motto, defines the issue. Wiley-Bugert lists a small number of die marriages, headed by WB-101 with its centered date and standard reverse, and including a separately catalogued 55/54 overdate that carries its own slug on this site. Useful diagnostics include the spacing and tilt of the arrows relative to the date and the position of the date relative to the rock and lowest curl, both of which help distinguish marriages and authenticate against modern struck counterfeits, which tend to show mushy arrow tips and incorrect weight against the 12.44-gram standard.

For collectors, the 1855 Arrows holds dual appeal. Type collectors who own an 1854 may still seek the 1855 to close the two-year subtype, while date specialists value it as the terminal year and a meaningful step toward a complete No Motto Arrows pair. Circulated examples in Very Fine through Extremely Fine remain accessible and offer strong design detail at reasonable cost, while AU coins deliver near-full feather and shield definition without the premium attached to Mint State. Beginners will find this date a sensible entry point because it captures the end of a discrete design era without the rarity surcharge of the 1855-O or the variety premium attached to the overdate. For the full design evolution of the denomination, see the Seated Liberty Half Dollar series history.