Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1837
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Weight: 1.33 grams (20.62 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 50

Christian Gobrecht's Liberty Seated motif, used on half dimes from 1837 through the end of the series in 1873, was produced in 1837 at the Philadelphia Mint and 1838 at the New Orleans Mint, in the format without obverse stars, thus isolating these two issues as a separate type. The obverse depicts Miss Liberty seated on a rock, her left hand holding a liberty cap on a pole and her right hand holding a shield inscribed LIBERTY. The date is at the bottom border. The reverse consists of an open wreath tied with a ribbon, enclosing HALF DIME, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding. Mintage figures reveal that 1,405,000 of the 1837 Philadelphia issue were produced while only 70,000 were made of the 1838-0.

Specimens are readily obtainable in grades from Good through Extremely Fine. The type collector will direct his attention to the 1837, for in every grade the 1838-0 is considerably more expensive. In AU and Uncirculated grades, the Philadelphia coin is available without difficulty, although higher grade Uncirculated pieces are quite elusive. Uncirculated examples of 1838-0 are exceedingly rare. The design without stars was used on circulating coinage only in the half dime and dime series and not on the quarter or half dollar (in the dollar series the without-stars motif appears only in pattern form in 1836).

Further Reading

The first Liberty Seated style, without stars on obverse, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1837 and at the New Orleans Mint in 1838. The absence of stars gives the coin a particularly appealing cameo-like appearance which many numismatists feel is more attractive than the later with-stars modification. It is a shame that this piece was not continued for a longer time.

The Guide Book lists mintage figures as 1,405,000 for the 1837 Philadelphia issue and just 70,000 for 1838-0. Fortunately for numismatists, quite a few 1837 Philadelphia coins were saved at or around the time of issue, with the result that Uncirculated pieces are seen with some frequency today. Years ago, our firm handled these in pairs, trios, and other small groups, but today the supply has become so widely dispersed that even a single piece offered in an auction catalogue usually merits a picture and a detailed enthusiastic description. Circulated examples of 1837 are much more plentiful and can be obtained without difficulty. The price has risen in recent years due to the demand as a design type.

On the other hand, 1838-O is scarce. While worn specimens, up to and including Extremely Fine and AU, can be obtained with only a modest amount of searching, Choice Uncirculated coins are great rarities. The number of specimens that are truly in this condition can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand with, as they say, some fingers left over. The same situation is true of the 1838-O dime without obverse stars.