Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1866-1873, 1875-1891
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 12.44 grams (191.97 grains, 1866 to 1873), 12.50 grams (192.90 grains, 1875-1891)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 56,138,834
Proof Mintage: 20,923

1866–1891 Liberty Seated Half Dollar – With Motto | IN GOD WE TRUST Type | Philadelphia, San Francisco & Carson City Issues

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Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1866-1873, 1875-1891
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 12.44 grams (191.97 grains, 1866 to 1873), 12.50 grams (192.90 grains, 1875-1891)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 56,138,834
Proof Mintage: 20,923

1866–1891 Liberty Seated Half Dollar – With Motto | IN GOD WE TRUST Type | Philadelphia, San Francisco & Carson City Issues

Introduced in 1866, the Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Motto marks a pivotal design evolution in U.S. coinage. This type added the patriotic motto IN GOD WE TRUST to a scroll above the eagle on the reverse, aligning with similar updates to the quarter dollar and silver dollar denominations that same year. This version would remain in use until the end of the Liberty Seated series in 1891.

Design Details & Historical Context

The obverse features Christian Gobrecht’s enduring Liberty Seated motif, depicting Miss Liberty seated on a rock, holding a liberty cap on a pole in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right. Thirteen stars form a crescent above, and the date rests below.

The reverse continues the heraldic eagle design but now with IN GOD WE TRUST boldly inscribed on a scroll above the eagle’s head, giving the coin enhanced symbolic appeal during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.

Mintages & Rarity

• Business strikes were continuously produced at the Philadelphia Mint from 1866 through 1891.

• San Francisco and Carson City Mint issues are included, with early 1870s Carson City coins (such as the 1870-CC, 1871-CC, and 1872-CC) being significant rarities in all grades.

• Notable subtypes include the 1873 and 1874 Arrows at Date issues, struck to indicate a minor weight adjustment.

From 1879 to 1890, business strike half dollars saw notably low mintages, as U.S. Mint facilities prioritized silver dollar production under the provisions of the Bland-Allison Act.

Collectibility & Market Availability

• Philadelphia issues from 1875 to 1878 are generally the most accessible, especially in Good to Very Fine grades.

• Extremely Fine and AU coins are increasingly scarce, with Mint State examples being truly rare, especially in MS-63 and higher.

• Proofs were struck annually in limited numbers and survive in proportion to their original mintages, though many have been impaired over time due to mishandling or cleaning.

Why Collect the 1866–1891 Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Motto?

• Represents the final design era of the Liberty Seated series

• Features the first use of IN GOD WE TRUST on U.S. half dollars

• Offers rare and highly desirable Carson City issues

• Includes low-mintage Philadelphia business strikes in the late 1870s–1880s

• Ideal for both type set collectors and advanced specialists

Whether you’re assembling a complete Seated Liberty collection or seeking a standout example for your U.S. type set, the With Motto Liberty Seated Half Dollar offers classic artistry, historical resonance, and exceptional scarcity in higher grades.