Seated Liberty Dollar
1840 - 1873
The Seated Liberty Dollar was first minted in 1840. At that time the same obverse design was used for all 
U.S. silver coins. The design was created by Christian Gobrecht. The obverse features Lady Liberty sitting on a rock, in her right hand she holds the Union Shield inscribed with the word “LIBERTY” and in her left hand she holds a long staff,
The reverse side of the Seated Liberty Dollar features an eagle with the Union Shield across its breast. The eagle is holding an olive branch in its right talons and three arrows in its left talons. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” appear in an arc around the upper half of the coin and the words “ONE DOL.” at the bottom below the eagle.
The Seated Liberty Dollar was struck at four different mints; Philadelphia (No mintmark), Carson City - “CC”, New Orleans - O, and San Francisco - S. The mintmark can be found below the eagle’s talons on the reverse.
The most valuable specimens of the Seated Liberty Dollar is the 1870-S of which there are only around 15 known to exist and the 1851-O of which there is only one example known to exist. Strangely enough the 1851-O is not included in the Guidebook of United States Coins. Other extremely rare issues are 1851 (any 
mintmark), 1852, 1858, 1871-CC, 1872-CC and the 1873-CC. The 1858 was produced only as a proof restrike during the 1860s and 1870s and it is estimated that somewhere between 50 and 500 specimens of each of the 1871-CC, 1872-CC and 1873-CC still exist today.
Also of interest was the 1866 No Motto Seated Liberty Dollar which was struck sometime in the 1870s along with a No Motto half dollar and quarter. These were produced especially for one person and only two have been confirmed to exist. These No Motto coins are normally viewed as patterns.
During the Civil War (1861 to 1865) precious metals like silver and gold were scarce and so very little silver coins were produced during those years.
The Seated Liberty Dollar is a popular coin among type collectors, as it would be very difficult, if not impossible and extremely expensive to accumulate an entire set. The most readily available specimens are the 1871 and 1872 Philadelphia strikes.
Seated Liberty Dollar Specifications:
Minted: 1840 - 1873
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 26.73 g
Composition: 90% silver 10% copper
Silver Content: 24.057 g
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Christian Gobrecht