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Dollars Pictures continue… “GOBRECHT DOLLAR” PATTERN [1836] Only eighteen pieces of the coin you see above were minted. They were the work of Christian Gobrecht, the new Second Engraver at the mint in Philadelphia. With this piece the design known forever after as “Seated Liberty” made its first appearance. A newly legislated gold-to-silver of 16 to 1 implied that silver dollars might now circulate, instead of disappearing into overseas melting pots. And the new steam powered presses at the mint could produce these coins in quantity, to a standard of quality unheard of in American coinage. These first few Gobrecht Dollars were pattern coins. They didn’t circulate in the traditional sense. Instead, they were passed around and among the influential politicians of the day, in search of approval for mass production. Coin images courtesy of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. |  |
SEATED LIBERTY DOLLAR, NO MOTTO [1840-1866] The Seated Liberty design as approved for circulation. Note that the eagle on the reverse has reverted back to the much earlier design of John Reich. Director Patterson claimed the changes were needed to improve the striking characteristics of the production design. More recent numismatic scholars, notably Walter Breen, have energetically challenged this assertion, pointing to the many weak and otherwise impaired specimens seen among the regular issues. Coin images courtesy of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. |  |
SEATED LIBERTY DOLLAR, WITH MOTTO [1866-1873] The motto “In God We Trust” was added in 1866, in response to a resurgence of religious sentiment during the American Civil War. Interestingly, two 1866 pieces were struck without the motto. Transitional issues? Not likely. Legend has it that a druggist doing business near the mint, and friendly with mint personnel, asked for and received these two coins – made to order! (It’s a long story…) Coin images courtesy of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. |
