Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1859-O Liberty Seated: Market Values
1859-O Liberty Seated: Summary of Characteristics
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: $1.052
Dies prepared: Obverse: 9; Reverse: 3
Business strike mintage: 360,000
Estimated quantity melted: Unknown
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population MS-64: 3 to 5 (URS-3)
Approximate population MS-63: 40 to 80+ (URS-7)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 2,250 to 2,750 (URS-13)
Approximate population VF-20 to AU-58: 2,000+ to 4,000 (URS-13)
Characteristics of striking: Varies; stars often weak, beginning at stars 8 and 9 and, depending upon the coin, to the left or right as well. Satiny rather than deeply frosty lustre; fields usually prooflike.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: An estimated 3,000 Mint State coins plus an unknown quantity of worn pieces were in the 1962-1964 Treasury release; nearly all Mint State coins from this hoard are heavily bagmarked.
Proofs:
None
Commentary
The 1859-O is readily available in low grade Mint State, due to coins released by the Treasury Department 1962-1964.