U.S. Mint coin reference

1873–1874: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 2A: Arrows at Date with Motto)

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Toned 1873 Liberty Seated half dollar with arrows and motto, obverse left and reverse right

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1873-1874

Country: United States

Denomination: Half dollar

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Silver weight: 0.3617 oz ASW

Weight: 12.50 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.

1873–1874: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 2A: Arrows at Date with Motto) history

1873–1874: Liberty Seated Half Dollar (Variety 2A: Arrows at Date with Motto) 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.

These half dollars announce the 12.50-gram standard with arrows beside the date. At .900 fineness they contain about 0.3617 troy ounce of silver, and the revised weight continued after 1874.