Bidspirit auction | 1861 United States Seated Liberty

1861 United States Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar - A United States Seated Liberty half dollar struck in .900 fine silver. The obverse features the figure of Liberty seated on a rock, holding a staff with a Phrygian cap and supporting a shield. A struck inscription on a banner across the shield reads LIBERTY. The date 1861 is struck at the base, and thirteen stars are arranged around the perimeter. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch and three arrows, with a shield on its breast. Struck inscriptions around the perimeter read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination HALF DOL. followed by a period. There is no mint mark visible on the reverse above the denomination. Weight: 0.395 ozt. The coin is in circulated condition. The obverse shows wear on the high points of Liberty's figure, including the head, breast, and knees, along with numerous fine scratches across the field (photo 1). The reverse exhibits wear on the eagle's head, neck, and wing feathers (photo 2). Dark toning and localized staining are visible along the rims, particularly on the right side of the reverse (photo 2). Small nicks and contact marks are present on both the obverse and reverse surfaces.