Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1852 Liberty Seated: Market Values
1852 Original and Restrike Liberty Seated: Summary of Characteristics
Original Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: Act of January 18, 1837 Designer of obverse: Robert Ball Hughes (after Gobrecht)
Designer of reverse: Robert Ball Hughes (after Reich)
Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $1.025 Dies prepared: Obverse: 1; Reverse: Several (under study).
Business strike mintage: 1,100; Delivery figures by month: August: 1,100.
Estimated quantity melted: Unknown
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population MS-64: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population MS-63: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 5 to 10 (URS-4)
Approximate population VF-20 to AU-58: 30 to 60 (URS-6)
Characteristics of striking: Usually sharp except for weakness at several stars to the right, especially 9 through 13.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: None
Proof Originals:
Dies prepared: Obverse: 1; Reverse: Several (?). Proof mintage: 15 to 30 estimated
Approximate population Proof-64 or better: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population Proof-60 to 63: 5 to 10 (URS-4)
Proof Restrikes:
Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: Not relevant; coin struck in year(s) later than 1852 Dies prepared: Obverse: 1; Reverse: Several (?). Proof mintage: 45 to 90 estimated
Approximate population Proof-64 or better: 4 to 8 (URS-3)
Approximate population Proof-60 to 63: 20 to 30 (URS-6)
Approximate population Impaired Proof: 5 to 8 (URS-4)
Characteristics of striking: Sharp, including all stars (compare to striking of originals, above).
Commentary
This is the second rarest Philadelphia silver dollar and follows closely on the heels of the rare 1851.
Additional Information
A View of the 1852 Dollar
The Coin and Stamp Journal, April 1876, printed the following price history as part of an article titled "Rare American Coins":
"DOLLAR OF 1852. Number of pieces coined: 1,100. "The first we find catalogued, sold in the [Mortimer Livingston] MacKensie sale, June 23, 1869 [conducted by Edward Cogan], for $40. Described: '1852; brilliant Proof dollar; scarce and very desirable for a cabinet.'
"Another at the [William A.] Fewsmith sale [conducted by Ebenezer Locke Mason, October 1870] brought $25.
"At [Emil] Cauffman's sale, May, 1871 [conducted by Edward Cogan], the price obtained was $22. Described: 'Beautiful Proof; very desirable.'
'Jewett sale, Jan., 1874 [conducted by Edward Cogan]; price received, $41. Described: 'Beautiful Proof; very desirable.'"
The Year 1852 in History
In the presidential contest, Democratic candidate Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire defeated the Whig entry, Mexican War hero Winfield Scott. Divided over the issue of slavery, the Whig party became increasingly weak.