Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1866-1873
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 26.73 grams (412.50 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 3,597,888
Proof Mintage: 6,060
1866–1873 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar – With Motto Type | Final Chapter of the Classic Seated Design
Introduced in 1866, the Liberty Seated silver dollar with IN ... Read More
Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1866-1873
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 26.73 grams (412.50 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 3,597,888
Proof Mintage: 6,060
1866–1873 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar – With Motto Type | Final Chapter of the Classic Seated Design
Introduced in 1866, the Liberty Seated silver dollar with IN GOD WE TRUST motto marked a significant design evolution for America’s premier silver coinage. The new inscription, placed on a scroll above the eagle on the reverse, was part of a broader post-Civil War movement to incorporate national religious sentiment into U.S. coinage. Aside from this addition, the coin retains the beloved imagery of Miss Liberty seated on a rock, a design first introduced in 1840.
Design Overview
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Obverse: Miss Liberty is depicted seated, holding a liberty cap on a pole in her left hand and supporting a LIBERTY-inscribed shield with her right. Thirteen stars arc above, with the date beneath.
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Reverse: A majestic eagle perches on an olive branch and clutches three arrows, now flanked above by a scroll bearing the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOL. frame the design.
Mintage & Historical Context
Struck from 1866 to 1873, this final subtype of the Liberty Seated silver dollar series precedes the mass-production era ushered in by the Morgan dollar in 1878. All issues in this span were produced in relatively limited quantities, with most dates classified as scarce to rare in today’s market.
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Key Issues: While all dates are low-mintage, the 1871 and 1872 are the most frequently encountered in the market.
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Mintmarks: Most coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, although a few issues bear the Carson City (CC)mintmark, and these are especially desirable to collectors.
Rarity by Grade
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Fine to Very Fine (F–VF): Most commonly seen grades; represent the bulk of surviving examples.
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Extremely Fine (XF): Available but notably scarcer.
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About Uncirculated (AU): Considered a challenge to locate, especially with original surfaces.
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Mint State (MS): True Uncirculated examples are elusive, and Gem or Superb Uncirculated pieces are great rarities.
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Proofs: Struck annually at the Philadelphia Mint during this span and available in line with their original mintages—though pristine examples in PR63 or higher remain in high demand.
Collector Appeal
The 1866–1873 With Motto Liberty Seated dollar represents the final evolution of Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty designand a poignant post-Civil War statement of national identity. These coins serve as an essential link between the early Liberty Seated issues and the dawn of America’s industrial silver dollar boom.
Ideal for:
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Type set collectors seeking to represent each major Liberty Seated subtype
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Investors looking for scarce, pre-Morgan era large silver coins
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Numismatists drawn to low-mintage 19th-century U.S. coinage with historical depth
Whether you're acquiring an affordable circulated example or a dazzling Uncirculated survivor, the Liberty Seated With Motto silver dollar remains a treasured classic—historically rich, numismatically important, and increasingly difficult to source in higher grades.
Let us know if you’re seeking a specific date, mintmark, or certified example from PCGS, NGC, or CAC—we’re happy to assist with tailored options.
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