1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar is a low-mintage silver dollar that draws steady collector interest. USA Coin Book guide estimates place business-strike examples between roughly $478 in Good-4 and $8,624 in MS63, though your actual coin's value depends on its specific version, finish and condition.
This year also saw proof production at Philadelphia, so identifying your coin's finish matters before anything else. Ordinary circulated pieces and proofs occupy very different markets.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar
The quickest way to start is to upload clear photos of both the front and back of your coin. Our identifier can offer a preliminary read on which version you may have — business strike or proof — based on the images.
It will not authenticate, certify or assign an exact grade, but it gives you a useful starting point before deeper research.
1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Value
Upload both sides of your 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1868 Proof (PR) is a distinct collectible finish worth verifying through professional authentication, as proofs from this era are scarce and serve a specialized market.
- Business-strike 1868 dollars in well-preserved condition can reach guide estimates around $8,624 at MS63 according to USA Coin Book, making uncirculated survivors considerably more valuable than worn examples.
Step 1: Identify Your 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Mint Mark and Version
Every 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, so you will not find a mintmark. Branch-mint issues in this series carry a small letter on the reverse beneath the eagle and above the ONE DOL.
denomination, but 1868 has none.
The design shows a seated Liberty figure on the obverse holding a pole with a Phrygian cap, a Union shield at her side. The reverse displays a spread-winged eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on a banner above.
This places the coin in the with-motto subtype used from 1866 onward.
The composition is 90% silver and 10% copper, with a nominal weight of 26.73 grams. If your coin feels light or doesn't ring like silver, it may be a replica or have been damaged.
Two collectible versions exist for 1868: the regular business strike and the proof. Distinguishing them is critical because they serve entirely different collecting markets and command different premiums.
A proof is a specific manufacturing finish involving specially prepared dies and planchets — it is not simply a shiny or high-grade regular coin.
Step 2: Check Your 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Grade
When grading a Liberty Seated Dollar, focus on four main wear points on the obverse: Liberty's head and hair detail, the area across her breast and torso, the knee where the gown drapes, and the lines on the Union shield. On the reverse, check the eagle's breast feathers and the tips of its wings.
A coin in Good-4 will show a smooth, flat Liberty with almost no interior detail, though the outline and date remain clear. As you move up to About Uncirculated, expect to see only light friction on Liberty's knee and the eagle's breast, with most original luster still visible.
Mint State coins retain full luster and no wear, though contact marks from bag handling are common and affect the grade. Do not confuse a weakly struck area — particularly Liberty's head — with actual wear; some dies simply did not fully impress that detail.
Use the same-type comparison image to gauge your coin against known grade benchmarks. Proof finishes should be evaluated separately from business strikes, since their surfaces and expected characteristics differ fundamentally.
Step 3: Check 1868 Liberty Seated Dollar Value by Mint and Version
1868 Liberty Seated Dollar
The 1868 business strike was produced at Philadelphia with no mintmark. It features the with-motto reverse design introduced in 1866.
USA Coin Book guide estimates place this coin at approximately $478 in Good-4 and around $8,624 in MS63. Those are guide figures, not guaranteed sale prices.
Original, uncleaned surfaces matter a great deal. A coin that has been polished, whizzed or dipped will grade lower or receive a details designation, which sharply reduces its market appeal.
Look for natural toning and undisturbed luster when evaluating higher-grade pieces.
Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point if you want to look up values for other dates and denominations in this series or across U.S. coinage. It can save you time before consulting a dealer.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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G 6
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VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
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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1868 Liberty Seated Dollar — PR
The 1868 Proof is a Philadelphia issue struck with specially prepared dies on polished planchets, producing mirror-like fields and sharp design details. No mintmark appears, same as the business strike, so you cannot distinguish the two by mintmark alone.
Look for deeply reflective surfaces, squared-off rims and exceptionally sharp detail on Liberty's hair and the eagle's feathers. Business strikes that simply survived in high grade can look shiny, but they lack the characteristic mirror fields and die finish of a true proof.
Professional authentication is the most reliable way to confirm proof status for this era.
No supported numeric price range was adopted for this version. Value depends heavily on authenticated identity, the coin's specific condition and whether original surfaces have been preserved.
Individual assessment by a reputable third-party grading service is the best path to establishing what a particular proof example is worth.
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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