1852 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar

1852 Liberty Seated dollars are old silver coins that are widely collected by those who build type sets of 19th-century United States coins and individuals who enjoy rare coins in general. Seated Liberty dollars were struck during the years 1840 through 1873, but they primarily circulated during the 1840s and 1850s. As the 1850s drew to a close, silver bullion prices increased and Liberty Seated dollars were largely relegated to foreign trade.

The Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco Mints were all involved in striking Liberty Seated silver dollars. However, only the Philadelphia Mint made the Liberty Seated dollar in 1852. Liberty Seated silver dollars from 1852 are particularly scarce as only 1,100 were made, and most of these have since been lost to the sands of time. There are two types of 1852 silver dollars, including original “high date” dollars and restrikes with centered dates. The original 1852 silver dollars are worth $6,500 in Very Good-8 to $40,000 or more in uncirculated grades. The restrikes have a value of about $18,000 and up in proof grades.

United States Mint Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht designed 1852 Liberty Seated dollars. Gobrecht also designed the other U.S. silver coins of the Liberty Seated type. Liberty Seated dollars are made from a composition consisting of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. Each coin contains 0.77344 ounces of pure silver. Liberty Seated dollar coins measure 38.1 millimeters in diameter and weigh 26.73 grams. These silver dollars are therefore the same size as Morgan and Peace silver dollars.