Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Date: 1853
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 12.44 grams (191.97 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 4,860,708
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 10

1853 Liberty Seated Half Dollar – Arrows and Rays Type | One-Year Design | Historic Weight Adjustment

The 1853 Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Arrows and Rays is one of the most distinctive and historically significant types in the U.S. silver coinage series. Struck for just one year, this unique design marked the Treasury's official response to the rising price of silver and the resulting hoarding and melting of circulating coinage.

Design & Historical Context

In 1853, the weight of the half dollar was reduced from 206.25 grains to 192 grains to keep the silver content in line with face value. To indicate this important change, the Mint added arrowheads flanking the date on the obverse and introduced a dramatic sunburst of rays behind the eagle on the reverse—a visual signal of reform unprecedented in earlier U.S. coinage.

The obverse retains Christian Gobrecht’s iconic Liberty Seated design, featuring Miss Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield and liberty cap. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with arrows and olive branch, now enhanced with radiant lines emphasizing the bold, transitional nature of the issue.

Rarity & Collectibility

Only two varieties of this short-lived type were issued:

• 1853 Philadelphia (mintage: 3,532,708)

• 1853-O New Orleans (mintage: 1,328,000)

Both are popular among type collectors for their one-year-only design and visual appeal. Examples are readily available in circulated grades, typically from Good through Extremely Fine. About Uncirculated (AU) pieces are scarcer, and Mint State examples—particularly those with original luster and sharp detail—are increasingly difficult to locate. Truly superb Uncirculated coins (MS65 and above) are rare and in high demand among advanced collectors.

Why Collect the 1853 Arrows and Rays Half Dollar?

• One-year type with unmistakable design elements

• Represents a pivotal moment in U.S. monetary history

• A must-have for Liberty Seated and U.S. Type collectors

• Strong demand and long-term value in higher grades

Whether you're assembling a Liberty Seated type set or looking for a standout piece of 19th-century coinage history, the 1853 Arrows and Rays Half Dollar offers unmatched appeal, scarcity, and investment-grade potential.