1840–1853: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse)

1846 Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime Stars on Obverse obverse and reverse

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1840-1853

Country: United States

Denomination: Half dime

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Weight: 1.34 g

Diameter: 15.5 mm

Thickness: Approx. 0.8 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Christian Gobrecht design; later relief revisions associated with Robert Ball Hughes

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty seated on a rock holding shield and pole.

1840–1853: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse) history

1840–1853: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse) adds thirteen stars around Christian Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty figure. It predates the arrows used to announce the 1853 weight reduction, so James B. Longacre’s later arrows work does not belong in this subtype’s designer specification.

On 1840–1853: Liberty Seated Silver Half Dime (Variety 2: 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.