General Comments
With one of the higher mintages in the Liberty Seated dollar series 1859 would appear to be a common date.
Those who have searched for the date will attest that it’s not. We’d call it very scarce, one of the most
overlooked dates in the series. Most of the coins minted were exported to the Orient and subsequently melted
for their silver content. Examples can be located, but patient searching is required. They become rare in
mint state, and very rare in choice to gem BU.
The finest known examples are one MS66+, one MS66, and one MS65, all slabbed by PCGS. 21 coins have been graded
at the MS64 level, 7 by PCGS and 14 by NGC. One of the PCGS coins received a MS64+ grade. 25 have been graded
MS63. A total of 74 coins have been graded at all levels of mint state. The number of mint state examples
known is almost certainly inflated in the population reports due to re-submissions. We consider any example
above MS62 as extremely rare. Population statistics are as of January, 2021.
In proof format 1859 begins the era of regular, documented proof issues, with much higher availability than any
previous year. The finest coin is a single PR67+ graded by PCGS. Eight coins have been graded PR67, four by
PCGS, including two Cameos, and four by NGC, including one Cameo. At the PR66 level PCGS has graded three coins,
one of them cameo. NGC has graded 21, including one ultra cameo and two PR66+, one of them Cameo. We suspect
that these grading records, particularly the PR66 coins at NGC, include a significant number of re-submissions,
trying to get the elusive PR67 or PR68 evaluation. A total of 34 coins have been given a PR65 grade, including
one PR65+ at PCGS. Over 380 have been graded as proof at all levels, far more than for any previous year.
Population statistics are as of January, 2021.
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Mintage | 256,500 |
Proof mintage | 800 |
Mintage ranking | 40th |
Finest known | MS66+ PR67+ |
Known obverse dies | 4 |
Known reverse dies | 6 |
Known die marriages | 6 |
Most common die marriage | OC-3/ R3 |
Rarest business strike die marriage | OC-1/ R4+ |
Rarest proof die marriage | OC-P2 / R7+ |
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1859 examples are usually well struck, occasionally displaying very slight softness on the star centrals,
hair detail, and/or the upper left wing feathers. High-grade business strikes are sometimes prooflike or
semi-prooflike, but more often frosty. With high mintage and a small number of die pairings the dies wore
sufficiently to eliminate prooflike surfaces for most examples.
1859 Die Marriages
6 die marriages have been positively identified. The following table summarizes the known die marriages for 1859:
Click the links below to view the details of the die marriages.
Die Marriage |
Rarity |
Obverse Die |
Reverse Die |
Estimated Survivors |
OC-1 |
R4+ | 1 | A | 110 |
OC-2 |
R3 | 1 | B | 370 |
OC-3 |
R3 | 2 | C | 345 |
OC-4 |
R4- | 3 | D | 175 |
OC-P1 |
R3+ | P1 | 1859 PA | 345 |
OC-P2 |
R7+ | P1 | 1856 PA | 5 |
Three obverse dies were paired with 4 reverse dies to strike all business strikes. All the business strike die
marriages are scarce, but none particularly rare. None of the business strike dies were used for proofs.
Two different proof die marriages have been confirmed. Both use Obverse P1, which shows minor repunching on the 1.
The original digit was punched slightly low, then corrected to the proper position. The first proof die marriage,
our OC-P1, is the one most commonly seen. It uses a reverse die which was also used for 1851, 1852, 1854, and
1858 proofs. We believe that all these early dates are restrikes, minted after the 1859 proofs. The second proof
die marriage, our OC-P2, uses a die, Reverse 1856 PA, that was first used for 1856 regular issue proofs. This die
marriage is extremely rare. We’ve confirmed only a single example, an NGC PR64. It was auctioned by Heritage with
the Jules Reiver collection in January, 2006. The photo in the Heritage archives doesn’t have enough resolution to
confirm that attribution with absolute certainty, but when added to other circumstantial evidence we concluded that
it was enough to merit adding the die marriage to our document. If anyone reading this currently owns the Reiver
coin, or another example of this die marriage, we’d love to hear from you and have the opportunity to examine the coin.
1859 Business Strike Emission Sequence
Because no dies were shared between three of the four die marriages the emission sequence listed
below is partially arbitrary. We know that OC-1 came before OC-2, but we can’t say for sure where the other two
marriages fit in. If new marriages are discovered which share any of the known dies we’ll update the emission
sequence as required.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-1 | Perfect obverse for all examples seen. |
2 | OC-2 | Obverse 1 die polish and the appearance of rim cuds indicate that OC-2 follows OC-1. |
3 | OC-3 | Placement in the emission sequence is arbitrary. |
4 | OC-4 | Placement in the emission sequence is arbitrary. |
1859 Proof Emission Sequence
With only a single example of the OC-P2 die marriage known the emission sequence is merely an educated
guess. If we have the opportunity to examine the Reiver coin, or another example of OC-P2, we’ll update this sequence
as required.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-P1 | |
2 | OC-P2 | |
1859 Quick Finder Chart
Attribution of 1859 die marriages is relatively easy. The obverse dies display few markers, but fortunately the date
positions are significantly different. The following table lists the keys for identifying each die marriage. Take
care in attributing Obverse 2 vs. the proof obverse. There are quite a few circulated proofs in business strike
holders. The Obverse 2 date is much higher in the field.
Die Marriage |
Obv Die |
Rev Die |
Right Base of 1 |
Keys |
OC-1 | 1 | A | JR of C |
Obverse:   Slightly low date.
Reverse:   Horizontal shield line #1 extends to the left across the first shield border but not across the second.
|
OC-2 | 1 | B | JR of C |
Obverse:   Slightly low date.
Reverse:   Horizontal shield line #1 extends to the left outside the shield border but isn't seen between the borders.
|
OC-3 | 2 | C | LE |
Obverse:   High date.
Reverse:   Lightly doubled extension of horizontal shield line #1 into the wing feathers.
|
OC-4 | 3 | D | R QTR |
Obverse:   Left date, grid = 4-1.0.
Reverse:   NO extension of horizontal shield line #1 to the left.
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OC-P1 | P1 | 1859 PA | LE |
Obverse:   Repunched 1, Grid=4-5.0. Date much lower than Obverse 2.
Reverse:   Lumps in the feathers of the lower left wing.
| OC-P2 | P1 | 1856 PA | LE |
Obverse:   Repunched 1, Grid=4-5.0. Date much lower than Obverse 2.
Reverse:   Die rust lumps on the L in DOL and the first S in STATES.
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Photo credits:
Obverse and reverse full photos:   PCGS PR67 Cameo CAC, finest known, from the Heritage archives.
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