1854 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar

1854 Liberty Seated dollars are rare silver coins that are widely collected by those who enjoy old 19th-century United States type coinage. Liberty Seated silver dollars contain nearly a full ounce of silver, though collectors value these coins for more than just their bullion content. They are considered numismatic treasures with significant historic value. Liberty Seated dollars were originally designed in 1840 by United States Mint Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht.

Seated Liberty silver dollars were produced until 1873 and issued by the Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco Mints. However, in 1854 Liberty Seated silver dollars were minted only at the Philadelphia Mint in relatively small quantity of just 33,140 pieces. Values range from $1,500 in a grade of Very Good-8 to $9,000 or more in uncirculated condition. Proofs are worth $17,000 and up. Liberty Seated silver dollars are extremely challenging to find in original, undamaged condition. Problem-free specimens are often worth significant premiums over similarly graded pieces that exhibit some signs of cleaning, have damage, or are otherwise altered.

Liberty Seated silver dollars saw widespread circulation during the 1840s and 1850s. As the price of silver bullion increased during the latter part of that period, the coins were more commonly used in foreign trade. 1854 Liberty Seated dollars are made from a composition consisting of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. They also weigh 26.73 grams and contain 0.77344 ounces of pure silver. Liberty Seated dollars measure 38.1 millimeters in diameter, the standard width of all large-size U.S. silver dollars made since the 1840s, which also includes the ever-popular Morgan and Peace silver dollars.