The 1855-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar (Buy on eBay) represents the first year of production for the denomination at the San Francisco Mint, which had opened in the previous year. Virtually the entire mintage of 129,950 coins was released and heavily circulated, leaving very few survivors. Only a handful of pieces are known in mint state grades.
The single, finest known 1855-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar is currently graded NGC MS 67. The coin sold in 1996 while in a PCGS MS66 holder for $72,600. Eight years later in 2004, the same coin in the NGC MS 67 holder for $92,000. Most recently, the coin sold in 2011 for $115,000.
Coin Specifications
- Designer: Christian Gobrecht
- Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Weight: 12.44 grams
- Diameter: 30.6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
