U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Liberty Seated half dime
Seated half dimes: stars, arrows, and the moving legend
The obverse border can identify a subtype before the date is fully resolved.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Five-cent silver in several forms
Early Seated half dimes have no obverse stars; stars and drapery follow. Arrows beside the date in 1853–1855 mark a reduced weight. In 1860 the national legend moves to the obverse, and the reverse wreath changes. HALF DIME distinguishes this small coin from the Seated dime.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Seated Half Dime ↗
What to photograph
Include Liberty’s elbow, the date and arrows, the entire border, wreath, and mintmark area. These views establish the subtype and prevent a generic Seated specification from being used across a weight change. Assess the head, knees, shield, and wreath for wear while recording soft striking separately.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Seated Half Dime ↗
Scarcity belongs to the exact form
The 1838-O no-stars issue, 1846, and 1853-O without arrows deserve particular issue research. Philadelphia Civil War-era dates also have a different scarcity context from common earlier pieces. Confirm the mint and arrows before searching sales, and distinguish an original surface from scratches, cleaning, or corrosion.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Seated Half Dime ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.