In October 1865, the US Civil War was finally in the rearview mirror and the nation was trying to come back together. During this period, the US sought to re-exert control over the governance and operation of the American South. The S.S. Republic steamer ship left New York in October and headed for New Orleans with, among other things, gold and silver coins. The ship sank in a storm and its valuable cargo sat undisturbed until 2003. Now, 1858-O Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollars from the S.S. Republic Shipwreck are available for purchase online from JM Bullion with NGC certification.
Coin Highlights:
- Coins arrive in NGC plastic slabs!
- Struck in 1858 at the New Orleans Mint!
- Sunk in October 1865 with the S.S. Republic!
- Contains .3599 Troy oz of actual silver content.
- Issued a face value of $.50 (USD) by the United States.
- Guaranteed a genuine specimen from the S.S. Republic shipwreck by the NGC.
- On the obverse is the image if Seated Liberty.
- The reverse features the heraldic eagle.
- O mint mark from the New Orleans Mint.
The Seated Liberty Half Dollar was produced by the United States Mint from 1836 to 1891. Seated Liberty was more than a single-denomination design. This image featured on the Half Dime, Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar, and Dollar over its lifetime, but ended on the Half Dime and Dollar in 1873. The Half Dime was canceled in 1873 and the Dollar was temporarily suspended.
As the US sought to recover, heal, and rebuild following the Civil War, this included operations such as the US Mint resuming operational control of mints in the south, namely the New Orleans Mint. The S.S. Republic was on its way to New Orleans from New York with equipment, supplies, and $400,000 in American coins, including these 1858 Seated Liberty Half Dollars.
On the obverse of 1858 Seated Liberty Half Dollars, you will find the iconic design of Liberty from Christian Gobrecht. Liberty is seated on a rock as she looks to her right. She holds a staff with a Phrygian cap on the top and rests her right hand on the US national shield set by her side.
The reverse of the 1858-O Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar features a depiction of the heraldic eagle of the United States. The eagle is shown here in front-facing relief with the US national shield on its chest, the arrows of war in one set of talons, and the olive branch of peace in the other. This field includes an O mint mark beneath the eagle’s talons.
These 1858-O Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollars are housed in an NGC plastic slab. The NGC has certified these coins came from the wreck of the S.S. Republic. The wreckage was discovered in 2003 and some 51,000 coins were recovered.
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