Rising Seated Half Dime Value

New Orleans Mint

The branch mint in New Orleans added to the production of Seated Half dimes with moderate amounts of coins during the years. These coins are identified by the large "O" within the wreath on the reverse. Just over 16 million were struck with the lowest year 1849 presenting a challenge to find today.

Philadelphia Mint

Over 51 million half dimes of the Stars Obverse variety were struck by the main mint in Philadelphia. Producing the majority of coins; these issues are recognizable by the lack of a mint mark. Philadelphia did not place a mint mark on coinage at the time. One year, 1846 is very elusive today, Philadelphia struck approximately 27 thousand 1846 half dimes for circulation with few surviving.

San Francisco Mint

San Francisco minting of seated half dimes is notable as the lowest of the mints. 2.3 million over a short time during the Civil War to the end of the series in 1873.

San Francisco mint issues are identified by the large "S" mintmark just below the knot in the bow tying the wreath. Many "S" mint years are very elusive and seldom encountered.

Philadelphia Mint

Philadelphia continued to lead in numbers of half dimes produced, although in lower numbers. Philadelphia mint half dimes are identified by no mintmark below the bow tying the wreath on the reverse.

With identity of date and variety known, grading is next to narrow value range.

Obverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: Liberty's portrait is rendered with fine details in waves of hair to delicate folds in her gown. To reach the mint state grade no wear is found on any of the details. Mint luster still covers the surface.

Liberty's thighs are very high in relief and inspected closely. No smoothing to the metal or changing of texture is noted.

Also, from her knees down her shins would indicate wear if a lack of luster is found.

Waves of hair at the top of Liberty's head are next judged. High areas are checked closely to determine if wear is evident. Presence of soft luster and texture is confirming a mint state - uncirculated grade.

Reverse: Features Identifying Mint State Grade: Within the wreath are many fine details raised high in profile. Each high profile area remains without any smoothing and color change, indicating a coin with no wear to the surface.

Within the wreath, leaves are arranged in groups with an uppermost leaf showing a central line. Inspect these leaves, wear quickly removes the fine center lines.

Leaves at the very top are often softly struck, lacking any central detail. Wear is recognized by a slight change in metal texture and color difference.

Essential to a mint state grade is a bow free of smoothing from wear. All high areas both in the upper loops and lower trailing ends of the ribbon are closely judged. Small flat areas develop quickly in these high spots when worn. The central knot is also judged.

Obverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Light wear confined to the highest elements of design is a coin in Extremely Fine grade.

Features of Liberty's hair and face are just beginning to lose detail. A flatness is noted in her hair with all major strands separated. Her cheek is flattened by wear but is distinct from the hair line.

Along her left arm holding the shield, is evidence of smoothing caused by wear. In extremely fine grade this smoothing is light, only at the very top of the contour of her arm.

Wear has removed a small amount of detail to both knees, only minor smoothing is seen with no large flat areas.

Reverse: Features Identifying Extremely Fine Grade: Wear has reduced upper most leaves only slightly.

Judge closely to confirm each leaf is well separated from lower leaves. Central detail is evident in most upper leaves.

A clear bow remains. All major detail to the upper loops is well detailed, just light smoothing and flatness. Trailing ends to the ribbon show fine detail and the knot is distinct from the stems.

A "crisp" appearance helps identify and define the extremely fine grade. All major elements are bold.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Visible wear now covers these half dimes in Fine grade. A moderate amount of wear has removed many fine details leaving major details almost to the point of blending together.

Upon close inspection, a small amount hair detail is visible at the back of Liberty's head. Her neck line, in the area, is just visible.

Important to identify the fine grade; the pole crossing in front of her arm is distinct and clear.

"Liberty" inscribed on the scroll across the shield is readable. Lettering is weak and just slightly faded in spots, however, the majority of lettering is complete. The scroll is defined and not merged with the shield.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Fine Grade: Leaf clusters are the focus. In Fine grade, individual leaves are separated and clear. An exception is the groups of leaves opposite the "D" and "E" of DIME are occasionally found just beginning to merge in areas. Strike differences are taken into consideration.

Top leaf of the clusters has now worn smooth; no inner detail remains.

A clear knot to the bow combined with separation of the knot from the stems on either side indicates a nice condition coin, within the Fine grade.

Obverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: Extensive wear has reduced Liberty's profile to a smooth surface. A coin in this condition is assigned a Good grade.

A strong outline of Liberty must remain. All edges of her outline are raised from the field of the coin.

A clear rim is a defining feature. Stars remain and are not merging with the rim.

Once "Liberty" is missing from the shield, a half dime is placed in the Good grade range.

Reverse: Features Identifying the Good Grade: Wear has caused complete fading and merging of leaf edges into smooth groups. With no edges defining individual leaves a half dime is assigned the Good grade.

A complete outline to the wreath remains. The bow is also bold enough to not merge with the field.

All letters of the legend are readable, with small areas of fading often seen confined to tops of some letters. Overall, a defined rim is visible, in places it occasionally shows weakness. A bold, complete rim indicates a strong strike and a solid for the grade reverse.

More Half Dime Values

Return to the index page leading to the rest of the half dime series. These small silver coins were first struck in 1794 and continued through 1873 involving many design changes. Value charts cover the series and grading images with descriptions judge condition. Branch mints began to produce half dimes and now identifying mintmarks becomes important to pinpoint how much the coin is worth.