SEATED LIBERTY HALF DOLLARS
ALTH O U GH N OT AS POPULAR as the lettered-edge half dollars struck before 1837, the Seated Liberty coinage of 1839–1891 is becoming increasingly important to collectors. The detailed studies of this series published by Bill Bugert over the past several years have played a critical role in rekindling interest.
First struck in 1794, the half dollar was in widespread favor with the public from its earliest days. By the 1820s this denomination was the most popular silver or gold coin in circulation and only the lowly copper cent saw as much use by the public.
In December 1836 the Mint succeeded in mechanizing the production of half dollars by producing them on a steam coining press instead of the old screw presses. Coins could now be minted far faster than in the old days and the nation was better served with more readily available money.
Prior to the introduction of steam coinage, however, Mint Director Robert Patterson dreamed of a coinage design which would be admired throughout the world. He thought so little of current coins that he hired famed artists Thomas Sully and Titian Peale to create this new work.
The obverse for this proposed coin was roughly based on the English figure of Britannia while the reverse was to be entirely new, showing a magnificent eagle in full flight. It
