1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
A Philadelphia 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar in well-worn G4 condition starts around $79 in guide estimates, climbing to roughly $394 near AU50. That said, the mint, exact grade and specific design variety can shift value substantially.
Carson City pieces carry a clear premium, and Proofs require their own separate comparison entirely.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar
The quickest way to start figuring out what your 1875 half dollar is worth is to upload clear photos of the front and back. Our identifier can offer a preliminary read on the mint, design type and general condition.
Good lighting and a straight-on angle help, especially for the small mintmark under the eagle.
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Value
Upload both sides of your 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar.
Front Obverse
Upload photo
Back Reverse
Upload photo
Which 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Versions Are Worth Money?
- Carson City (CC) half dollars carry roughly double the Philadelphia price at similar grades, with guide estimates near $162 at G4 and $1,262 at AU50.
- Philadelphia Proofs are collectible in their own right, with a PR63 guide estimate around $1,408.
- San Francisco coins come in multiple mintmark sizes, including Medium Small S, Small Wide S, Very Small S and Micro S, each worth confirming against reference images.
Step 1: Identify Your 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Mint Mark and Version
The obverse shows Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole topped with a cap, with thirteen stars around the rim. Flip the coin over and you will see an eagle with a "HALF DOL" denomination below and a small banner reading "IN GOD WE TRUST" above.
The mintmark sits on the reverse, centered beneath the eagle. No mintmark means Philadelphia.
An "S" means San Francisco, and "CC" means Carson City. Use a loupe because some of those letters are tiny.
All 1875 half dollars are struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 12.50 grams. The weight had been bumped up from 12.44 grams in 1873 when arrows flanked the date.
By 1875 the arrows were removed, but the heavier weight stayed.
Do not confuse a Proof with a high grade. Proof is a special manufacturing finish with mirror-like fields and sharp rims, produced at Philadelphia for collectors.
A brilliant Mint State coin is not automatically a Proof.
Step 2: Check Your 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Grade
Start with Liberty's head and knee on the obverse. These are the first areas to lose detail as a coin circulates.
On the reverse, check the eagle's breast feathers and the top of the shield.
A coin grading around G4 will show a smooth Liberty outline with the date still readable but most interior detail gone. By VF20 you should see moderate wear on the high points but clear drapery lines on the gown.
AU50 means only light friction on the very highest spots, with most original luster still visible.
Weak strikes can flatten detail even on an uncirculated coin. Look for remaining cartwheel luster in the fields to tell the difference between wear and a soft strike.
The comparison image is your best friend here.
Cleaning, rim dings and holes all hurt value independently of the wear grade. A cleaned AU can sell for less than an original VF, so watch for unnatural shininess or hairlines under magnification.
Step 3: Check 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Value by Mint and Version
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Philadelphia — Standard
The Philadelphia issue has no mintmark below the eagle. It is the most available 1875 half dollar for collectors building a type set.
Guide estimates place it around $79 in G4, $194 in VF20 and $394 in AU50. Even well-worn examples carry solid silver content and collector demand.
Compare the mintmark area carefully: a blank space confirms Philadelphia origin.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
—
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
—
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Carson City — Medium CC
Carson City half dollars carry a "CC" mintmark beneath the eagle, in what is classified as the Medium CC style for this year. These coins were struck in smaller numbers than Philadelphia or San Francisco issues, and that scarcity shows in the prices.
Guide estimates run about $162 at G4, $425 at VF20 and $1,262 at AU50, roughly double or more the Philadelphia equivalent at each grade. A reflective surface alone does not make a CC coin a Proof; authenticated Proof status requires more than shine.
Use a loupe and compare the mintmark against reference images to confirm the medium-sized CC punch.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1875-CC Liberty Seated Half Dollar (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific Carson City — Medium CC variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
—
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
Coin Identifier
VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
—
—
—
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — San Francisco — Medium Small S
The Medium Small S is one of several San Francisco mintmark styles seen on 1875 half dollars. The "S" sits below the eagle and is moderate in size with compact serifs.
Aggregate date-and-mint guide estimates for San Francisco pieces come in around $87 at G4, $172 at VF20 and $394 at AU50. No separate subtype premium has been adopted, so individual value depends on the specific die and condition.
Compare against the mintmark inset to distinguish this from the other S varieties.
Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point if you want to look up guides for other denominations in the Seated Liberty series or compare across years.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1875-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific San Francisco — Medium Small S variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
—
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — San Francisco — Small Wide S
The Small Wide S variety uses a noticeably wider letter punch than the Medium Small S, with more space between the serifs. It still sits in the same position beneath the eagle.
Aggregate San Francisco guide estimates are around $87 at G4, $172 at VF20 and $394 at AU50, without a separate subtype premium adopted. Side-by-side comparison with the reference inset is the most reliable way to call this one.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1875-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific San Francisco — Small Wide S variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
—
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — San Francisco — Very Small S
The Very Small S is exactly what it sounds like: a distinctly smaller mintmark than the standard San Francisco punches used this year. You will need magnification to appreciate the difference.
Aggregate guide estimates for 1875-S half dollars sit near $87 at G4, $172 at VF20 and $394 at AU50. No individual subtype premium is currently adopted, but proper attribution still matters for specialist collectors tracking die marriages.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1875-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific San Francisco — Very Small S variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
—
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — San Francisco — Micro S
The Micro S is the smallest mintmark punch used on the 1875 San Francisco half dollar. Under a loupe it looks almost comically tiny compared to the Medium Small or Small Wide versions.
Aggregate date-and-mint guide estimates are about $87 at G4, $172 at VF20 and $394 at AU50, with no adopted subtype premium. Identifying this variety requires careful comparison against authenticated reference images because at first glance it can simply look like a weakly struck normal S.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1875-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific San Francisco — Micro S variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
—
Coin Identifier F F 12
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
Coin Identifier
VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
Coin Identifier
XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
Coin Identifier
AU 53
Coin Identifier
AU 55
Coin Identifier
AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
Coin Identifier
MS 61
Coin Identifier
MS 62
Coin Identifier
MS 63
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Philadelphia Proof
Philadelphia Proofs were struck with polished dies on polished planchets, producing mirror fields and razor-sharp design details. The 1875 Proof carries the Motto design without arrows flanking the date.
A guide estimate places the PR63 level at around $1,408. Contrast designations such as Cameo exist within the Proof finish but do not change the fundamental classification.
Look for squared, knife-edge rims and fully mirrored fields as primary diagnostics. A bright circulation strike is not a Proof, no matter how lustrous it appears.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
—
Coin Identifier
PR 2
—
Coin Identifier
PR 3
—
Coin Identifier
PR 4
—
Coin Identifier
PR 6
—
Coin Identifier
PR 8
—
Coin Identifier
PR 10
—
Coin Identifier
PR 12
—
Coin Identifier
PR 15
—
Coin Identifier
PR 20
—
Coin Identifier
PR 25
—
Coin Identifier
PR 30
—
Coin Identifier
PR 35
—
Coin Identifier
PR 40
—
Coin Identifier
PR 45
—
Coin Identifier
PR 50
—
Coin Identifier
PR 53
Coin Identifier
PR 55
—
Coin Identifier
PR 58
Coin Identifier
PR 60
Coin Identifier
PR 61
Coin Identifier
PR 62
Coin Identifier
PR 63
Coin Identifier
PR 64
Coin Identifier
PR 65
Coin Identifier
PR 66
Coin Identifier
PR 67
Coin Identifier
PR 68
—
Coin Identifier
PR 69
—
—
—
PR 70
—
—
—
1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar Error List
1. 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Repunched Mintmark
Repunched mintmark varieties are reported for the 1875 half dollar on both Carson City and San Francisco issues. The diagnostic is a visible doubling or secondary impression of the CC or S mintmark, where the die was punched more than once and the first impression was not perfectly aligned.
Under magnification you may see a shadow letter, an extra serif or a notch that does not belong on a cleanly punched mark.
Do not confuse this with machine doubling, which produces flat shelf-like distortion rather than a rounded secondary impression. Die chips or corrosion pitting around the mintmark can also mimic the look.
Condition, the clarity of the secondary punch and the specific die involved all affect how much a repunched mintmark adds to the coin's value, so individual assessment is necessary.
2. 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Misplaced Date
A misplaced date variety has been cataloged on the 1875 San Francisco half dollar. The diagnostic is a partial numeral visible outside the normal date position, typically found in the denticles or lower field near the date.
This happens when the date punch was first applied in the wrong spot before being corrected.
To confirm it, compare your coin's date area against a normal 1875-S reference. You are looking for a ghost digit or a fragment of a number where none should appear.
Ordinary hub design elements, wear, post-mint damage and old tooling marks can all create false positives. The specific misplaced numeral, its visibility and the coin's overall condition each affect value, so no single price applies across the board.
3. 1875 Liberty Seated Half Dollar — Die Gouge / Named Raised-Line Variety
The 1875 San Francisco half dollar includes a named raised-line variety known as the Spiked 5. The diagnostic is an extra spike or blob of raised metal attached to the final digit of the date.
It results from a gouge or defect in the die surface that transferred metal onto the struck coin. This is distinct from an overdate; no underlying different digit is present.
Look at the 5 under magnification and compare it to a normal example. The spike should be a consistent raised feature, not an incuse scratch, a random die crack or post-strike damage.
An incuse line cuts into the surface, while a die gouge variety stands above it. Value depends on the prominence of the spike and the coin's condition, so each piece needs its own evaluation.
