HALF DOLLAR 1866-1891 With Motto
Description
As with other coins of the same era, a slight modification was made to the weight in which they were produced. The increase from 192 grains to 192.9 was signified by the addition of arrows at the date. For this reason, certain Half Dollars dated 1873 and all of those dated 1874 included arrows. Coins of earlier and later dates in this series did not include arrows.
The regular Liberty Seated design, which had been in use since 1839, was modified in 1866 by the addition of IN GOD WE TRUST to the reverse. The motto appears on a scroll or ribbon above the eagle. A similar change was effected in the quarter and dollar denominations. Production was continuous at the Philadelphia Mint from 1866 onward. Business strikes were also made at San Francisco and Carson City, with several of the Carson City varieties, particularly those in the early 1870s, being rare today. Business strike Philadelphia Mint issues from 1879 through 1890 were produced in low numbers, as the Mint was busy turning out unprecedented quantities of silver dollars at the time.
Extremely Fine coins are scarcer, AU pieces are scarcer yet, and Uncirculated coins can be called very scarce. Superb Uncirculated pieces are quite rare. Proofs exist in proportion to their original mintages.
Valuation
- COIN NAME
- HALF DOLLAR 1866-1891 With Motto
- DESIGNED BY
- Christian Gobrecht
- ISSUE DATE
- 1866-1891
- COMPOSITION
- 0.900 part silver, 0.100 part copper
- DIAMETER
- 30.6 mm
- WEIGHT
- 192 grains 1866 to 1873 no arrows; 192.9 grains later
- EDGE
- Reeded
- BUS MINT
- 56,138,834
- PROOF MINT
- 20,923
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