View All 1853 Seated Liberty Half Dollar

1853 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar - Arrows and Rays

Strike Type

Coin Details

Year

1853

Denomination

Half Dollar

Mint Mark

Strike Type

Regular Strike

Series

Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891

Designer

Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Mintage

1,328,000

Composition

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Weight

12.4g

Diameter

30.6mm

Edge

Reeded

Value Estimates

$96 - $6,852

Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.

Auction Record

$72,000 MS65 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

A half dollar from the New Orleans Mint, the 1853 (O) Seated Liberty Half Dollar - Arrows and Rays belongs to the Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891 series. The U.S. Mint produced 1.3 million examples, making this ranked 2nd of 3 mint variants by mintage, with 27% of production. The obverse features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian liberty cap in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Arrows at date and rays on reverse mark the weight reduction. The 1853-O "No Arrows" is extremely rare with only four known. New Orleans's branch mint, active from 1838 through 1909, produced coins that carry a distinct historical significance tied to the antebellum and postbellum South. Estimated market value ranges from $96 to $6.9K depending on grade and condition. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.4 grams, 30.6 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #6276.