1859 Liberty Seated Half Dime H10C PCGS MS64

The existing hub, dating from 1840, was retained for the New Orleans half dime coinage of 1859. This is in contrast to the Philadelphia production, which utilized a new and experimental interpretation of the Seated Liberty. 1859-O half dimes are somewhat scarce in circulated grades, and Mint State examples are far less often seen than other half dimes of the 1857-59 period. Most specimens are less than fully struck, with the border denticles being a particularly problematic feature.

1859 O Seated Liberty Half Dime Value

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of June 2025, a Seated Liberty Half Dime from 1859 in circulated condition is worth between $16.50 and $290. However, on the open market, 1859 O Half Dimes in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $6400.

In 1859, the Half Dime mintage fell dramatically to less than a tenth of the year before. In spite of its rather low mintage, the 1859 Half Dime remains affordable in most grades. One might say it is an excellent value in all grades. To make this date even more accessible, a mini-hoard of just over a dozen high-grade examples appeared on the market in 2012. Nothing less than an MS67 appeared in this lot, and two of the coins earned the remarkable grade of MS68+ at PCGS.