U.S. Mint coin reference

1853: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1A: Arrows at Date, Rays on Reverse)

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1853 Liberty Seated half dollar with arrows at date and rays on reverse, obverse left and reverse right

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1853

Country: United States

Denomination: Half dollar

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Silver weight: Approx. 0.3599 oz ASW

Weight: 12.44 g

Diameter: 30.6 mm

Thickness: Approx. 2.15 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Design identification

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

1853: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1A: Arrows at Date, Rays on Reverse) history

1853: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1A: Arrows at Date, Rays on Reverse) records the Coinage Act of 1853 weight reduction. Arrows beside the date announced the new standard, while rays around the reverse eagle appeared only during 1853 on quarters and half dollars.

The half dollar combines arrows at the date with a dense field of rays around the eagle. The 12.44-gram standard and 30.6 mm diameter distinguish its physical format from the quarter issued with parallel markers.