1844 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar

1844 Liberty Seated dollars are silver coins that are generally sought by type collectors. Liberty Seated silver dollars are as large and hefty as the popular Morgan and Peace silver dollars and contain nearly a full ounce of silver. However, Liberty Seated dollars are far more valued for their numismatic merit than merely as a silver bullion coin. They were designed by noted United States Mint engraver Christian Gobrecht, who designed other coins featuring the Liberty seated motif shared on the obverses of other silver coins from the era.

Seated Liberty silver dollars were issued by the Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco Mints from 1840 through 1873. However, they were struck only at the Philadelphia Mint in 1844, where only 20,000 pieces were made. Today, they are worth between $300 in Very Good-8 and $5,000 and up in uncirculated grades. Proofs are worth $35,000 or more. Liberty Seated silver dollars in general are scarce, though pieces that are truly original, uncleaned, and undamaged are extremely difficult to find.

Liberty Seated dollars were used throughout the United States when they were first issued, though they fell out of general use as silver bullion prices rose. They were relegated to use in foreign trade as the 1850s rolled on. 1844 Liberty Seated dollars are made from a 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper composition, weigh 26.73 grams, and contain 0.77344 ounces of pure silver. These coins also measure 38.1 millimeters in diameter, which is the standard width of all large-size U.S. silver dollars made since the mid 19th century.