Seated Liberty Dollars — Key Dates, Design Types & Collector Guide
Introduction to the Seated Liberty Dollar
The Seated Liberty Dollar was produced from 1840 through 1873, bridging one of the most transformative periods in American history — from the age of Manifest Destiny and westward expansion through the Civil War and into Reconstruction. Christian Gobrecht's design, which had already appeared on smaller denominations, placed Liberty seated on a rock holding a shield inscribed "LIBERTY" in her left hand and a pole topped with a Phrygian cap — the ancient symbol of freed slaves — in her right. The eagle reverse projected strength and peace through its classic spread-wing posture with arrows and olive branch.
The dollar denomination was significant during this era. Large silver dollars circulated alongside gold coins as the primary high-value currency of American commerce, used by banks, merchants, and the federal government for major transactions. The Seated Liberty Dollar was struck at Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and — in its final years — Carson City, creating a rich variety of mint mark combinations that fuel collector interest to this day. The series ended with the Coinage Act of 1873, which eliminated the standard silver dollar and introduced the heavier Trade Dollar designed for Asian commerce.
Design Types and Major Varieties
The Seated Liberty Dollar series is collected by type as well as by date, and understanding the major varieties is essential to building a meaningful collection. The original 1840 design had no motto on the reverse. This No Motto type ran through 1865 with minor modifications. In 1866 the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to a ribbon above the eagle on the reverse — a change driven by the religious fervor that swept the nation during and after the Civil War. The With Motto type continued through the end of the series in 1873.
Within those two broad types, collectors also distinguish between the original reverse design and the later reverse with rays, and track the relatively minor but documented changes to Liberty's portrait and the reverse eagle across the series' run. A type set covering No Motto and With Motto is the most common collecting approach, requiring two coins to represent the full design history. For those drawn deeper, a complete date-and-mint set is a serious long-term challenge with multiple genuinely rare coins standing in the way of completion.
The Addition of "In God We Trust" in 1866
The addition of "IN GOD WE TRUST" to U.S. coinage in 1866 was one of the most consequential design changes in American monetary history — and the Seated Liberty Dollar was among the first coins to carry it. The movement to add a religious motto to coins gained momentum during the Civil War, when the nation's proximity to mass death and moral crisis drove an intensification of public religious expression. Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase received numerous letters urging the acknowledgment of God on coinage, and Congress eventually acted. The motto first appeared on the 1864 two-cent piece and was extended to silver and gold coins in 1866.
For collectors, the motto's addition creates a clean and historically meaningful division within the Seated Liberty Dollar series. No Motto coins (1840–1865) represent the antebellum and early Civil War era; With Motto coins (1866–1873) represent Reconstruction and the postwar period. Both types are readily available in circulated grades from Philadelphia, though branch mint issues — especially from Carson City — are substantially scarcer regardless of motto status.
Key Dates and Notable Issues
Major Rarities
1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar
Fewer than 15 examples are known, most believed destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. The 1870-S may not have been officially authorized — its existence remains somewhat mysterious. Specimens sell for $750,000–$2M+ whenever they appear at auction. Value: $750,000–$2M+
1851 & 1852 Original Issues
The 1851 (1,300 mintage) and 1852 (1,100 mintage) Philadelphia issues are among the lowest-mintage regular circulation dollars in the series — most surviving examples are restrikes made years later. Originals are extremely valuable in any grade. Values: $5,000–$100,000+
1858 Proof-Only Issue
No business strikes were produced in 1858 — only an estimated 210 proofs. A required date for a complete Seated Liberty Dollar set that is accessible only in proof format. Deep Cameo examples are exceptional. Value: $5,000–$50,000+
Carson City Key Dates
1871-CC & 1872-CC
The first two Carson City dollar issues — 1,376 and 3,150 struck respectively. Among the rarest regular-issue dollars of the 19th century. Any circulated example is a significant find; Mint State survivors are essentially unavailable. Values: $10,000–$200,000+
1873-CC With Arrows
The final Carson City Seated Liberty Dollar, struck with arrows beside the date to mark the weight change authorized by the Coinage Act of 1873. Just 2,300 were struck. A dramatic last-year rarity from the frontier mint. Value: $5,000–$100,000+
1870-CC & 1873-CC No Arrows
The 1870-CC (11,758 mintage) is an accessible Carson City key; the 1873-CC No Arrows is far rarer with just 700 struck before arrows were added mid-year. Both are essential CC dates for a complete collection. Values: $1,000–$75,000+
Circulation and the End of the Series
The Seated Liberty Dollar circulated heavily during the 1840s and 1850s, serving as the standard large silver coin for commercial and banking transactions. The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought a flood of gold into the economy and affected silver coin circulation patterns, but the dollar remained an important denomination. During the Civil War, coin hoarding removed virtually all silver and gold from circulation in the North — Seated Liberty Dollars, like all precious metal coins, disappeared from everyday trade and were replaced by paper currency and fractional notes.
After the war, silver coins slowly returned to circulation, but the Seated Liberty Dollar's days were numbered. The Coinage Act of 1873 — sometimes called the "Crime of '73" by silver advocates who felt betrayed by it — eliminated the standard silver dollar entirely, replacing it with the Trade Dollar at a different weight. This abrupt end gave the Seated Liberty Dollar series a clean terminal date of 1873 and created the final-year Carson City rarities that are among the most sought coins in the series today. For certified values by date, mint, and type, see the FRC Coin Price Guide. Related guides: Morgan Dollars, Trade Dollars, and U.S. Dollars overview.
Find Seated Liberty Dollars for Your Collection
From common Philadelphia dates to Carson City rarities and certified proof issues, Seated Liberty Dollars are available on eBay with buyer protection. Browse numismatic references on Amazon before you buy.
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Where to Find Seated Liberty Dollars
eBay
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Shop Money Metals →Amazon
Find the Q. David Bowers Seated Liberty Dollar reference, coin albums, and archival storage supplies to protect and document your collection.
Shop Amazon →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for Seated Liberty Dollars by date, mint mark, and type before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Frequently Asked Questions
What years were Seated Liberty Dollars produced?
Seated Liberty Dollars were produced from 1840 through 1873. The series began after the Gobrecht Dollar experimental issues of 1836–1839 established the design, and ended with the Coinage Act of 1873 which eliminated the standard silver dollar and replaced it with the Trade Dollar at a different weight. The series spans 34 years across four mint facilities: Philadelphia (no mint mark), New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), and Carson City (CC, from 1870). Not every mint produced dollars every year — San Francisco began in 1859, Carson City not until 1870 — so the matrix of date and mint mark combinations is more limited than some other series, but the rarity of key dates makes completion a genuine challenge.
What is the difference between No Motto and With Motto Seated Liberty Dollars?
No Motto Seated Liberty Dollars (1840–1865) have a plain reverse with the eagle and standard inscriptions but no motto ribbon. With Motto coins (1866–1873) added "IN GOD WE TRUST" on a ribbon above the eagle, following congressional legislation in 1865 directing the motto's addition to gold and silver coins. The change was implemented in 1866. Both types are collected as distinct pieces in type sets — the No Motto type is generally more available in common dates from Philadelphia, while Carson City issues are scarce in both types. The year 1866 itself offers both types as the change was made mid-production, though both 1866 No Motto and With Motto pieces exist.
Why is the 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar so rare?
The 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar is one of the great mysteries of American numismatics. Fewer than 15 examples are known, and the historical record is unclear about how many were originally struck. One theory is that a small number were produced as ceremonial pieces placed in the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building, with no significant production for circulation. Another is that most of the mintage was later melted. Whatever the explanation, the 1870-S is one of the rarest regular-issue U.S. coins of any denomination and commands prices of $750,000 or more at auction when an example surfaces.
How do I identify a genuine Seated Liberty Dollar?
The Seated Liberty Dollar is a frequently counterfeited coin, particularly in key dates. Genuine examples weigh 26.73 grams (412.5 grains) in the standard established in 1840 and measure 38.1mm in diameter. The reeding on the edge should be sharp and evenly spaced. For key dates — especially Carson City issues, the 1851 and 1852, and the 1858 proof — PCGS or NGC certification is absolutely essential. Both services maintain population reports and guarantee authenticity. Altered mint marks (adding a CC to a Philadelphia coin) and outright counterfeits are documented throughout the series. Never purchase a significant Seated Liberty Dollar without third-party certification.
What is a good entry point for collecting Seated Liberty Dollars?
The most accessible starting point is a common Philadelphia date in the 1840s–1860s in Very Good to Fine condition — coins like the 1842, 1843, 1844, or 1846-O in circulated grades typically cost $200–$400 and provide a genuine large silver dollar from the mid-19th century with solid eye appeal. A No Motto type coin and a With Motto type coin together form the natural two-coin type set that represents the full design history. From there, collectors can add San Francisco issues for variety, eventually working toward the challenging Carson City dates. The Q. David Bowers reference book on Seated Liberty coinage is the essential guide and is available on Amazon.
Were Seated Liberty Dollars used in everyday commerce?
Yes, but with significant variation across the series' 34-year run. In the 1840s and 1850s, large silver dollars circulated actively in commercial banking and major transactions, though they were too valuable for everyday small purchases. The Civil War (1861–1865) drove all precious metal coins — gold and silver — out of circulation in the North through hoarding, and paper currency took over. After the war, coin circulation gradually resumed, but silver dollars remained more of a banking and commercial instrument than a pocket coin. The heaviest circulation Seated Liberty Dollars experienced was in the West and in international trade, where silver was the preferred medium of exchange long after paper currency dominated the East.
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