U.S. Mint coin reference

1854–1855: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1B: Arrows at Date, Rays Removed)

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Toned 1854 Liberty Seated half dollar with arrows at date and rays removed, obverse left and reverse right

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1854-1855

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.

1854–1855: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1B: Arrows at Date, Rays Removed) history

1854–1855: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 1B: Arrows at Date, Rays Removed) uses arrows beside the date to signal the reduced subsidiary-silver weight authorized in 1853. Unlike the quarter and half dollar, the dime and half dime did not use a rays-around-eagle reverse.

On the 1854-1855 half dollar, the rays are gone but arrows remain beside the date. The simplified eagle field and 12.44-gram standard identify this two-year subtype.