1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar is a scarce Civil War-era silver dollar that draws serious collector attention. Guide estimates for explicitly listed grades range from about $1,037.00 in Good-4 to $11,127.00 in MS63, depending on the version and condition.
Before you assign any value, you need to confirm the mint, finish, and design of your specific coin.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar
Want a quick read on what you have? Upload clear photos of both the front and back of your 1862 dollar.
Our identifier can offer a preliminary identification of the version and general condition, helping you figure out which branch your coin falls into before you dig deeper into pricing.
1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Value
Upload both sides of your 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1862 business strike ranges from about $1,037.00 in Good-4 to $11,127.00 in MS63 per USA Coin Book guide estimates — condition drives value sharply on this low-mintage date.
- The 1862 proof is a distinct collectible branch requiring professional authentication; no standard guide range is adopted, so individual assessment based on authenticated identity and condition is essential.
Step 1: Identify Your 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Mint Mark and Version
The 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar was struck only at the Philadelphia Mint. There is no mintmark on this issue.
If you see a small letter on the reverse below the eagle and above "ONE DOL.," you are looking at a different year or series.
The coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, with a nominal weight of 26.73 grams for the 1840–1873 series. It features the Seated Liberty design on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse, without the motto "In God We Trust" that appeared on later issues.
Two distinct collectible branches exist for 1862: the regular business strike and the proof finish. A proof is a special manufacturing process — mirror fields, sharp details from polished dies — not just a coin that looks shiny or grades high.
If your coin has deeply reflective surfaces and razor-sharp rims, it may be a proof, but authentication by a grading service is the only reliable way to confirm that.
Before comparing values, identify which of these two branches matches your coin. The difference in collectibility and pricing between a business strike and a proof is significant.
Step 2: Check Your 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Grade
When grading an 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar, focus on the high points that wear first. On the obverse, check Liberty's head, the area across her breast, her knee, and the details on the shield she holds.
On the reverse, look at the eagle's breast feathers and wing tips.
Do not judge the grade by one area alone. A weakly struck head can look worn even on a higher-grade coin.
Compare the overall wear pattern, not just the softest spot.
Original surfaces matter a lot on these. Cleaning, polishing, or whizzing will flatten the value regardless of how much detail remains.
Look for natural toning and undisturbed luster in the protected areas around the stars and lettering.
Use the same-type grading comparison image to see what circulated, About Uncirculated, and Mint State examples look like side by side. Proof coins should be evaluated separately — they show wear differently, and their mirror fields make contact marks more visible.
Step 3: Check 1862 Liberty Seated Dollar Value by Mint and Version
1862 Liberty Seated Dollar
The 1862 business strike was produced at Philadelphia with no mintmark. It carries the no-motto Seated Liberty and eagle design in 90% silver.
Guide estimates from USA Coin Book place a Good-4 example around $1,037.00 and an MS63 at roughly $11,127.00. These are guide-level figures, not guaranteed offers.
Original, problem-free surfaces are critical. Coins that have been cleaned, polished, or artificially toned trade at a discount compared to pieces with natural patina.
Match the mint, design, and finish before using any price reference.
Coin Value Lookup is a good starting point if you want to look up guides for other dates and denominations in the Seated Liberty series or beyond.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
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Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1862 Liberty Seated Dollar — PR
The 1862 proof is the same Philadelphia-minted, no-motto design but produced with a distinctly different manufacturing process: polished dies, carefully prepared planchets, and multiple strikes that create mirror-like fields and exceptionally sharp details. A proof is a finish, not a grade above Mint State.
No supported numeric price range is adopted for this version, so valuation depends on individual assessment. Authentication by a recognized grading service is essential because many business strikes have been misidentified as proofs due to reflective surfaces caused by die polish or cleaning.
Genuine proofs from 1862 were struck in small quantities for collectors, making them quite scarce. Condition, eye appeal, and the presence of cameo contrast between the devices and fields all influence what a specific example might bring at auction.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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