Seated Liberty Half Dollars - which date is the best to own?
Leeroybrown
Posts: 500 ✭✭✭✭✭
Now I know this is a loaded question with many many opinions and circumstances, but was just curious to the answers and reasons why?
So…. My question:
(Other than the 53-O NA and the 78-S) If you could only own/ keep/ purchase 1 date/ MM SLHD coin, which date would you choose to keep/ acquire? …and Why? Rarity? Survival rate? Scarcity? Condition rarity? Other?
Look forward to your feedback and answers to the question!!
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Comments
The 1853 Arrows and Rays has got to be pretty popular, and is a nice looking one year type, readily available at a fairly low price due to the high mintage. My grandpa had one and now I have it.
The 1853 Arrows and Rays is a popular classic.
The 1839 No Drapery in VF-XF is a strong performer. So are the 1864 and 1865.
1861-O, fascinating year with some minted under US control, some Louisianna and some Confederate.
Not really possible to answer. Too many factors. I really could not pick just one. However:
One factor would be eye appeal. Any one of these would be a nice representative (for me):
Another consideration would be combination pieces (possessing rarity and featuring a rare die pairing):
Survival/scarcity consideration involves low population issues.
Very stable PCGS population for this issue (8 at grade; 10 finer):
This date has very low CAC approval populations (applicable also to the 1874-S):
Another factor would be one year only type coins in the series:
The last one I'll list would be the overdates in the series.
You can see that it is not possible to pick just one...
I'm a small letters guy. Plus I'm a New Orleans guy. My pick is any variety of the 1840-O New Orleans Half. James
I agree with @JBN , can’t pick just one because they are all so cool looking 🌞
Mr_Spud
@Leeroybrown . Your question does not mention grade but amend my pick with this condition. The true beauty of the Sully inspired design details shine best if the coin is at least an XF-45. I only collect circulated coins but my one and only would be an AU-50 or so. James
All of the above answers are great. However, if it were me and I only get one then I’d lean towards a 1870 Carson City. It’s the first year coin from that mint, with a low mintage that went into circulation in the old west. It’s a classic that will always be in demand no matter what the condition (but I only collect nice, circulated coins with original surfaces.)
1840(o) large eagle
Cheating answer-The 1866 No-Motto Philadelphia piece is believed to be unique (as is its companion quarter).
1855-S or 1871-CC in BU with PCGS pop of only 3.
"Seated Liberty Half Dollars - which date is the best to own?"
The one that (for whatecer reason) I covet the most and can comfortably afford.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I’m biased towards anything Carson City so for me it would be an 1870-CC.
+1, I almost picked that one. Not sure why I was limiting myself to one choice anyway.
Interesting question... and equally interesting responses!
I'd have initially deferred to the one-year type piece... 1853 A&R. It's a beautiful coin, especially when toned and in higher grade.
The "higher grade " comments got me to thinking that if I only could have one, I'd want the highest grade possible regardless of date. I'd pick a price point you're comfortable with and find the best already certified coin I could find.
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These are a couple good one's:
My buddy Leroy. Great topic!
You know such a question is overwhelming to a seated half collector! So many coins in the series might qualify. Yet, your question in the thread title is different than in your initial post request which is directed toward each respondee's preference vs the general collecting public.
My selection from the collection will be the coin that started me down the series rabbit hole years ago and say this coin (for the one year design, the toning, the shelf doubling, and being from the O mint) would be my choice:
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Beauty Catbert !!
Here is mine of the same date:
I agree with the 1853 A&R, but another one to consider is the 1861-O CSA Obverse.
I like the 1839 No Drapery Half Dollar.
I can only choose one date? What is the definition of "one"?
Individual coin based on design?
1853 A&R
Strike type?
Business strike instead proof as I prefer circulated XF range coins
Only one mintmark?
Carson City
Only one decade?
1839-1849 - it contains some incredible varieties
1839 No Drapery
1840 (O)
1844 Dramatically Doubled Date
1846 Horizontal Date
1847/6
1849 Dramatically Doubled Date
Key to each branch mint?
52-O, 70-CC, 78-S
Key to the entire series?
78-S
My personal "one" is pursing the assembly of the entire date/MM set, so I didn't pick the easy one.
My solitary Seated half is an attractive VF 1853 A&R, holed, that resides on my key chain.
If I were to collect the series, the first coins on my wish list would be the high-survival but low-mintage 1879-1890 subset.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
The condition of this piece is outside of your target range. Therefore you ought to sell it to me please. 😘
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Another date I recommend is the following. I have a small horde of them in lower grades. I wish I had grabbed them in higher grades years ago. I grabbed this one just as the price shot up in the market. It first appeared as a BIN or BO; I offered $179 at the time. The dealer thought I was crazy and said it was worth at least $275 at the moment, according to some price guide. He stopped the ad and put it up for auction at a very low reserve. I won the coin for $170. At that time, the price shot up everywhere. The price of mid-grade 76-CCs is four times that now.
Good question and I don't think I can limit my choices to one coin. I've always liked the 1847/46 (early die state only), the 1851, 1852, 1855-S, and 1887. All of these coins in any grade are desirable, at least to me.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
My favorite seated look. Ditto Catbert and Ljnkins11.
Gorgeous @Coinbert !
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Yet the 1851, 1852, and 1855-S haven't increased in value much over the last 18 years from what I see. The 1887 appears to be going through a surge at the moment, with XF and AU CAC coins going for $2000-$2500 now. They always seem to be hot coins to buy, particularly CAC stickered examples.
I have ignored most of the rare varieties. The standard set is difficult enough. I may go after them later.
The 1839 No Drapery, 1876-CC, 1864, and 1865 - all they do is go up in price, year after year.
I used to think the 1857-S was the hottest SLH on the planet. A coin I purchased and returned for $500 (for reverse graffiti), appeared on your site a few months later for $900 and sold in two weeks. Prices were soaring; I couldn't win an auction no matter what I bid. I remain the underbidder record holder for XF40. Yet 1857-Ss haven't shown any price growth in the last 6 years. I suspect hoarding explains the weird price fluctuations.
@Leeroybrown. I know it is not your original question, but as a Seated Half collector there are specific coins I consider indispensable when it comes to representing such a long running series. I also use Eagle brand slab pages to hold my coins so my sets almost always end up in groups of 9. you didn't ask but here are mine:
1839 first year 30's
1840-O first New Orleans 40's
1853-O arrow & ray 50's
1861-O end New Orleans 60"s
1865-S end No Motto San Fran mint
1866 with motto
1873-CC Carson City mint 70'S any CC would do but prefer with arrows
1880 80's any coin from decade would do
1891
Sorry, but there is just something about being able to show the complete time and spectrum of the series is so important I would rather have none if that is the choice. james
1853 A&R. I don't collect any US coins anymore, but it's still on my short list of those I would potentially buy.
>
Do you mean 1866-S No Motto to end No Motto S-mintage?
I'd add to this excellent list the 1840-(O) as a cool mule.
The 1873 No Arrows Open 3 deserves consideration for digital evolution.
I also like the 1870-CC as representing the start of the CC mint
Now you only need six more to fill an Eagle brand slab page.
No I can't afford the no motto 66 coin.
1870 cc
Impossible to go with just one, but since I don't believe it has been specifically mentioned I might call out the 1842-O small date. I am a really big fan of the 1842-O in general, but the small date die marriages do tend to grab my attention.
Seated Dollar Collection
Wow, Southcounty! That's gorgeous and has to be among the finest known!
I have never owned the 1842-O small date, but it broke my heart to sell most of my small letters coins during covid.. I have always thought it was criminal that the mint had to go and change the design. I still love Seated Halves above all other coins but I get a sore jaw from clenching my teeth when I think of what might have been. @Southcounty . A beautiful coin to own. You should consider doing a thread on the coins in your collection. I remember some of the coins you posted long ago on a different forum. James
Very nice 1842-O Small Date Liberty Seated half dollar, Southcounty! Congratulations!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
I know that this is not popular thing to say, but I find these coins to be a rather dull series. The two most interesting dates and varieties to me are the 1839 No Drapery and the 1853 Arrows and Rays. Others have posted better, but here are my pieces.
Always thought the 1853 with arrows/rays was a worthy one, if you only wanted one.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
I'm partial to the later No Motto and early With Motto dates, about 1862-1872. There are some scarcer issues but nothing too terribly expensive (from the P and S mints, at least)
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
I love the series! To each, their own of course.
I'd love to know what you think is an "exciting" series!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
@hummingbird . I have no problem with that time period. You get both No Motto and Motto coins. You get some excellent Civil War dates. You get a group of sleeper dates (my opinion but check the PCGS/NGC pop for the 62 to 72 Philly dates sometime) and at the very end there the 72-CC is not the monster date the previous 2 years are.
My favorite run is the Pre-53 coins. I have allready said how much I love the early small letters coins. I love anything from the New Orleans mint but the first decade or so is fascinating. I especially love that many of the dates have mintages in the millions but certified populations in the few hundreds. Too many people have talked about the 48-52 period for it to be considered a sleeper group but talk doen't increase the size of the coin population (much). There is also a grade curve to consider. It is much more common to find attractive, higher circ. grade coins in the With motto period. It can take years to find an attractive higher grade coin in the Pre 53 period. Just one collectors experience, but 1843 is suppose to be a very common date. It took me more than 10 years to find a Philly 43 in Au-50 I was willing to add to my collection. James
Generally I am turned off by a series that has an endless number of mint marks.
@Catbert . I have an older brother Don. He refuses to even try cheesecake. Claims a cake made of cheese is gross. To this day I am profoundly grateful that my brother leaves me all the chesecake when we have a get together.
I am very lucky myself. I have been blessed with a wonderful imagination. I cannot hold an 1840-O Seated Half without thinking of the far off place it comes from and what amazing roles this coin played in the lives of other.
I cannot hold an 1862 Seated Half and not see in my mind the horrific pictures of Antietam and get a sense of the profound sense of loss people felt on both sides. The same can be said for any Civil war date. Just today I am posting pictures of an 1876 Half. I grew up in a town with a large Lakota population. Even today both sides struggle to grasp the events of Custers defeat and the effect it had on the Lakota.
I am the kind of person who does better with a visual aid and for me Seated Halves are a guide to understanding the past. Here is something I do no matter what. When I get a new Seated coin I do a search online to learn what mischief and mayhem mankind was up to then. We get back only what we put in. James
So true. In my view, one can't be a true coin collector and not appreciate the history behind a particular date. There is so much to appreciate beyond Gobrecht's design!
For you, @seatedlib3991
As to why I chose this series to collect, I wanted a challenge and given the series length and limited availability of straight graded versions, it certainly is!
If one wants to collect:
Anyway, apologies to Leroy for my detour.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"