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Sample Photo: not representative of the coin or grade of coin being sold.
Sample Photo: not representative of the coin or grade of coin being sold.
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Years: |
1840-1873 |
Composition: |
90% Silver, 10% Copper |
Weight: |
26.73g |
Diameter: |
38.1mm |
Edge: |
Reeded |
Designer: |
Christian Gobrecht |
Mints: |
Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, San Francisco |
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Liberty Seated Dollars
In 1835 the Mint began planning to produce silver dollars again, which had been out of production since 1804. Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht created pattern coins with the obverse based on a sketch of Liberty by artist Thomas Sully and a reverse based on a sketch of an eagle in flight by artist Titian Peele. The obverse depicted Liberty seated on a rock, a shield with 'LIBERTY' written accross it in her right hand and a staff with a Liberty cap in her left hand; the date written below her. The reverse depicted an eagle in flight with the legend 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' around it and the denomination 'ONE DOLLAR' below it.
These pattern coins, referred to as Gobrecht Dollars were produced from 1836 to 1839. The obverse design, known as Liberty Seated was adopted on half dimes and dimes in 1837, quarters in 1838 and half dollars in 1839. Finally in 1840 the Mint began producing silver dollars for circulation again. The obverse featured artist Robert Ball Hughes' modified Liberty Seated design, already in use on the other denominations. Hughes' design features a slightly smaller rock and a drapery from Liberty's left elbow. The reverse featured the standard eagle with a shield on it's chest and arrows and an olive branch in it's talons, which had been used on silver coins since it first appeared on half dollars in 1807. 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' was written around the eagle and the denomination, 'ONE DOL.' below it. Despite the bullion value of the coin exceeding it's face value, the Liberty Seated, No Motto Above Eagle Dollars did not have their weight changed in 1853 and the design remained unchanged until 1866.
Reflecting the growing religious sentiment caused by the Civil War, Congress passed the Mint Act of March 1865, providing for the inclusion of the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' on all gold and silver coins large enough to display the phrase. A scroll bearing this phrase was added on the reverse above the eagle in 1866. No other features of the coin changed. The Liberty Seated, With Motto Dollar was produced until 1873 when it was replaced by the heavier Trade Dollar, designed to compete against the Mexican Peso and other bullion coins in Asian markets.