Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Cents 1860-1873, KM# 91, United States of America (USA)
  • 5 Cents 1860-1873, KM# 91, United States of America (USA)
  • 5 Cents 1860-1873, KM# 91, United States of America (USA), New Orleans Mint
  • 5 Cents 1860-1873, KM# 91, United States of America (USA), 1861: Second 1 of date over 0
  • 5 Cents 1860-1873, KM# 91, United States of America (USA), 1872: San Francisco Mint mark in wreath (left) or below wreath (right)
Description

The Seated Liberty portrait designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Seated motif, used on half dimes from 1837 through the end of the series in 1873, was struck in 1837 at the Philadelphia Mint and the following year at the New Orleans Mint, without obverse stars, thus isolating these two issues as a separate type. In 1838 a semicircle of 13 stars was added around the obverse border, and this basic design was used through 1859. In 1853, small arrows were added to each side of the date to reflect a reduction in weight due to rising silver prices, and the arrows remained in place through 1855. The arrows were dropped in 1856, with the earlier design resumed through 1859. In 1860, the obverse stars were replaced with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the reverse wreath was enlarged.

Engraver: Christian Gobrecht

Obverse

Depicts the figure of Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap, which had been a pre-eminent symbol of freedom during the movement of Neoclassicism (and in fact traces its roots back to Ancient Greece and Rome). Liberty's right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word "Liberty". The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty.

In 1860 the U.S. Mint eliminated the stars on the obverse of Seated Liberty, replacing them with the legend "United States of America", which had previously appeared around the wreath on the reverse of the coins.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LIBERTY
1869

Reverse

Depicts a wreath around the words HALF DIME.

Before 1860, this wreath consisted of laurel leaves, a traditional Neoclassical image, but beginning that year, the wreath was enlarged and was filled not only with leaves, but also traditional American agricultural products, such as corn and wheat.

HALF
DIME

Edge

5 Cents

Seated Liberty Half Dime, Legend Obverse
KM# 91
Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 1.24 g
Diameter 15.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mints
New Orleans Mint (O)
Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark)
San Francisco Mint (S)

Related coins

Seated Liberty Half Dime, Without Stars

Silver, 1.34 g, ⌀ 15.5 mm
Seated Liberty Half Dime, With Stars, No Arrows

Silver, 1.34 g, ⌀ 15.5 mm
Seated Liberty Half Dime, With Stars, With Arrows

Silver, 1.24 g, ⌀ 15.5 mm