Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1840-1865
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 26.73 grams (412.50 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 2,890,563
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 5,500

1840–1865 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar – No Motto Type | Iconic Antebellum Silver Dollar

The Liberty Seated silver dollar series officially began in 1840, marking the transition from experimental patterns (1836, 1838, 1839) into full-scale circulating coinage. Struck continuously through 1865, this impressive large-size dollar features Christian Gobrecht’s timeless rendition of Liberty, a design echoed across all major U.S. silver denominations of the era.

Design Overview:

• Obverse: Depicts Miss Liberty seated on a rock, holding a liberty cap atop a pole in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right. Thirteen stars arc above, and the date appears below.

• Reverse: A heraldic eagle perches on an olive branch, grasping three arrows in its talons, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and ONE DOL. below.

• This early version of the Liberty Seated design is noted for lacking the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST," a feature introduced later in 1866.

Rarity & Collectibility

The 1840–1865 Liberty Seated dollar series includes several low-mintage rarities, with the 1851, 1852, and 1858issues ranking among the most coveted key dates in 19th-century American coinage.

• Common Dates: Coins dated 1843, 1846, 1847, 1859-O, and 1860-O are more accessible and ideal for type set collectors.

• Circulated Grades: Most survivors are found in Fine to Very Fine, with Very Good and lower grades being relatively uncommon due to the denomination’s limited circulation.

• Higher Grades:

  • Extremely Fine (XF) coins are collectible but scarcer.

  • About Uncirculated (AU) examples appear with moderate frequency.

  • Uncirculated (MS) coins are notably scarce, except for 1859-O and 1860-O, which surfaced during the Treasury silver dollar release of 1962.

  • Superb Gems (MS65 or higher) are extremely rare and represent trophy-level pieces for advanced collectors.

Proof Issues

• Proof Liberty Seated Dollars were officially made available to collectors beginning in 1858 and continued through 1865.

• Earlier proofs, struck sporadically from 1840 onward, are exceptionally rare and are often found only in the most elite cabinets.

• Later Proofs from this span are generally available in proportion to their original mintage, though high-grade, original-toned pieces are increasingly difficult to locate.

Why Collect This Type?

• It represents America's last large-format silver dollar before the Civil War and the post-war motto addition.

• Offers historical connection to the antebellum economy, westward expansion, and Civil War-era finance.

• A cornerstone for any U.S. type set, silver dollar collection, or investment-grade portfolio.

Whether you're searching for a key date rarity like the 1851 dollar, or a high-end 1859-O survivor with original luster, the Liberty Seated No Motto dollar stands as a visually striking and historically rich chapter in U.S. coinage. Secure a piece of early American monetary history with this monumental silver dollar type.