Most Seated Liberty half dollars are worth about $25 to $40 in worn condition. Every regular-issue coin in the series is 90% silver.
That range covers the common dates most people find, and it already sits above face value because of the silver: a standard Seated half contains about 0.36 troy ounces of pure silver. The scarce dates are a different market — the 1878-S starts near $1,000 in worn condition, and low-mintage Carson City issues bring hundreds. This guide covers value by date group, the weight changes that split the series, and how to check your coin. Value ranges are approximate and were checked on November 5, 2026; individual coins vary with grade, surfaces, and certification.
Seated Liberty Half Dollar Quick Facts
The Seated Liberty half dollar was struck from 1839 to 1891. Christian Gobrecht’s design — Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield and a liberty cap on a pole — ran across the half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar for over fifty years. The half dollar changed along the way: the weight dropped in 1853 and arrows at the date marked that change, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added above the eagle in 1866, and arrows returned briefly in 1873–1874 when the weight was nudged up again. The series follows the Capped Bust half dollar and ends just before the Barber half dollar took over in 1892.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Years struck | 1839–1891 |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight | 13.36 g (1839–1852); 12.44 g (1853–1873); 12.50 g (1873–1891) |
| Pure silver content | 0.3866 oz (early); 0.3600 oz (1853–1873); 0.3617 oz (1873–1891) |
| Diameter | 30.6 mm |
| Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Mints | Philadelphia, New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC) |
What Is a Seated Liberty Half Dollar Worth?
Value follows three things: the date and mintmark, the design subtype, and condition. Common-date coins in worn condition trade on their silver plus a modest collector premium. Low-mintage branch-mint dates and first-year subtypes trade on rarity, and Carson City issues carry a premium of their own.
| Date / Type | Mintage | Typical Worn Value (approx.) | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common dates, 1854–1891 (P, O, S) | Varies | $25–$40 | The range most finds fall into |
| 1839–1852 early heavy-weight issues | Moderate | $35–$75 | First weight standard; includes the popular No Drapery subtype of 1839–1840 |
| 1853 Arrows and Rays | 3,532,708 (P) | $40–$80 | One-year type marking the 1853 weight reduction |
| 1866-S No Motto | 60,000 (all 1866-S) | $400+ | San Francisco struck both versions in 1866; the No Motto variety is the scarce one |
| 1870-CC | 54,617 | $350+ | First Carson City half dollar, and the strongest CC date most collectors can still find |
| 1878-S | 12,000 | $1,000+ | The lowest-mintage regular issue of the series and its great circulation rarity |
| 1873-CC No Arrows | 122,596 (all 1873-CC) | $500+ | The No Arrows weight subtype is scarce in every grade |
Two warnings apply to the whole series. First, cleaned coins lose a large share of their collector value even when the date is scarce. Second, altered mintmarks exist on the better dates, so any Seated half worth real money should be certified before it is bought or sold.
Silver Content and Melt Value
A Seated Liberty half dollar struck from 1853 onward contains about 0.36 troy ounces of pure silver — 0.3600 ounces at the 1853 weight and 0.3617 ounces at the final weight — while the early 1839–1852 coins contain 0.3866 ounces. Melt value is simply that content times the silver spot price (ASW × spot). At a silver spot of $53.09 per troy ounce, melt works out to $19.11 for a standard-weight coin, $19.20 at the final weight, and $20.53 for an early heavy coin. Common-date Seated halves trade above melt on collector demand; heavily worn or damaged coins trade closest to it. Data by Bullion Price Check, as of November 5, 2026, 13:58 UTC.
The Seated design ran across five denominations, and the silver math works the same way for each. Our Seated Liberty quarter value guide, Seated Liberty dime value guide, and half dime value guide cover the rest of the family.
How to Check Your Seated Liberty Half Dollar
Start with the date and mintmark. The mintmark sits on the reverse, below the eagle; no mintmark means Philadelphia. Then identify the subtype: arrows beside the date (1853–1855 or 1873–1874), rays around the eagle (1853 only), and the motto on a scroll above the eagle (1866 onward). Finally, weigh the coin if you can — about 12.4 to 13.4 grams depending on the era is a fast authenticity check, and a coin that weighs far less is either heavily worn or not genuine. Compare the era against the Barber coinage that replaced the Seated design in 1892.
Shop 90% Silver Half Dollars
Seated halves are a 19th-century series, but the 90% silver half dollar format they carried ran well into the 20th century. Our $1 face value 90% silver Walking Liberty half dollars in XF and the AU-grade Walking Liberty halves give you the classic half dollar format in pre-1965 silver, priced by face value instead of by the date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Seated Liberty half dollar worth?
Most Seated Liberty half dollars are worth about $25 to $40 in worn condition. Scarce dates are worth far more — the 1878-S starts near $1,000, and low-mintage Carson City issues bring several hundred dollars.
How much silver is in a Seated Liberty half dollar?
A Seated Liberty half dollar contains about 0.36 troy ounces of pure silver at the standard weight. Coins from 1839–1852 are heavier and contain 0.3866 ounces.
What is the rarest Seated Liberty half dollar?
The 1878-S is the rarest regular issue, with a mintage of just 12,000. The 1866-S No Motto variety is the other famous scarcity in the series.
Where is the mintmark on a Seated Liberty half dollar?
The mintmark is on the reverse, below the eagle. Look for a small O, S, or CC; no letter means the coin was struck in Philadelphia.
Are Seated Liberty half dollars a good way to own silver?
Seated Liberty half dollars carry collector premiums above their silver content, so they are collectibles first. Buyers who want silver weight at the lowest premium usually choose common-date pre-1965 coinage or modern bullion instead.
Educational content only — not financial advice.