Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873

About This Series

Christian Gobrecht's Seated Liberty design graced the silver dollar for thirty-four years, spanning antebellum expansion through the Civil War and into Reconstruction. The obverse depicts Liberty seated on a rock holding a liberty pole with Phrygian cap and a shield, while the reverse features a heraldic eagle. The series encompasses multiple subtypes: arrows at the date (1853) and the IN GOD WE TRUST motto (1866). Among its celebrated rarities is the 1870-S, struck at San Francisco with perhaps only one business strike surviving — a coin of legendary status. Carson City Mint dollars from 1870-1873 carry the coveted CC mintmark, highly desirable to collectors of Western mint coinage from the Comstock Lode era. The Seated Liberty Dollar's production overlapped briefly with the Trade Dollar beginning in 1873. Many dates were struck in modest quantities, as the silver dollar had limited domestic circulation during this period. The series' long span, multiple subtypes, and challenging rarities make it one of the most rewarding collecting pursuits in American numismatics.

Series Information