1864-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar VF+ Very Fine + JO/862

Description

Coin
Seated Liberty Half Dollar
Year
1864
Mint
San Francisco
Graded
No
Certified By
Uncertified
Grade
Ungraded
Notes
Seated Half Dollar (1839-1891) No Motto (1839 – 1853, 1856 – 1866) With the advent of the steam driven presses at the Mint facilities, newly appointed “second” engraver Christian Gobrecht began work on redesigning the nation’s coinage. The Gobrecht designs crossed all silver denominations with the work based on sketches by Thomas Sully and Titan Peale. The new half dollar incorporated a .900 silver composition that was incorporated with the Reeded halves and was a departure from earlier halves compositions designated by Congress in 1792. The overall weights were again changed and designated on the coins with the addition of arrows and rays in 1853-1855. These devices were removed and the No Motto type was struck again using the reduced weight until 1866 when the design changed another time with the addition of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Arrows and Rays (1853) In 1853, the overall weight of the half dollar was reduced from 13.36 grams to 12.44 grams. To denote this change, arrows were place on either side of the date, and rays appearing to shine from the reverse eagle were added on the reverse. The added devices caused some striking issues and the rays were removed creating this popular one year type. Examples of this variety were produced in both Philadelphia and the branch mint facilities in New Orleans. Arrows (1854-1855) The Arrows and Rays design additions were used to denote weight changes that had created some striking difficulties for both half and quarter dollar seated issues. The rays emanating from the reverse eagle were eliminated from the design, but the arrows on either side of the date remained to signify the changes in weights. This type continued for two years when the design resumed as originally issued using the new reduced silver composition. The two year type issue was struck in Philadelphia, New Orleans and in a small quantity San Francisco. Arrows (1873-1874) After the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the half and quarter dollar, the weight was changed and the overall weight went from 12.44 up to 12.50. For the second time in the series run, the weight change was designated on the coin with arrows placed on either side of the obverse date. The designation was removed after a couple years with the new standard weight in play. This two year type was produced in Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco. Motto (1866-1873, 1875-1891) In response to the religious fervor that inspired the nation during the Civil War, the Mint began adding the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST to all its coinages. It began in 1864 with the 2-cent piece and was added to the half dollar in 1866. It remained on the concurrent half dollar designs in some form up to the present time. The motto addition was achieved by changing Gobrecht’s reverse design with a ribbon above the heraldic eagle depicting the inscription. The added device was included on all varieties of the half for the duration of its production. The Motto half is the more common type version of the Seated design.
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