Coin specifications and design
Design identification
Obverse: Liberty seated on a rock holding shield and pole.
U.S. Mint coin reference
1837–1838: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Type 1: No Stars on Obverse)
Seated Liberty half dime series.
1837–1838: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Type 1: No Stars on Obverse) history
1837–1838: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Type 1: No Stars on Obverse) presents Christian Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty design without obverse stars, producing an uncluttered field around Liberty. This first layout preceded the addition of thirteen stars and has no connection to the arrows used after the 1853 weight reduction.
On 1837–1838: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Type 1: No Stars on Obverse), thirteen stars surround the seated figure while HALF DIME remains inside the reverse wreath. The 1.34-gram standard and date markers keep it distinct from the related dime.