The following is an attempt to identify the major varieties of Liberty Seated Dollars. Unless otherwise noted an example of the actual variety has been examined by the author. Regardless of the number of coins seen by one individual, that individual's experience would represent only a snap shot of what was available at that period and represent only a small fraction of what may actually exists. I have no doubt that there many more fascinating varieties waiting to be identified. Corrections, modifications and additions to the present listings are encouraged.

Over the past twenty five years, I have been fortunate enough to have viewed literally thousands of Seated Dollars. During that time, some of the finest collections of coins ever assembled have come on the market including, but not limited to, Garrett, Norweb, Eliasberg and Stacks' collections. In many cases, the opportunity did not afford me the chance to memorialized all the details of each coin. However, I was able to get a general sense of the availability of some of the better known varieties and confirm some of the lesser known ones.

Unfortunately, this study is limited to what I believe are "major" varieties. All known minor date placements or mintmark positions are not necessarily identified. Many circulated proofs and some prooflike business strikes, of which there are many in this series, have led to much confusion and many misattributions in the past. In fact, no grading service currently in existence have escaped making such errors, but, to their collective credit, they have subsequently corrected them.

References to Breen are from Walter Breen's seminal work, Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. On a related side note, I met with Mr. Breen back in 1990 at a coin show in Santa Clara, California. I showed him my research notebook on Seated Dollars (at that time going on more than seven years) and we talked about his work on Seated Dollars. I especially wanted to hear about the 1856/4 and the 1867 repunched date proof listings in his book. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed when Mr. Breen told me that the Seated Dollar section of the book was based on another person's research notes and that he himself did not have personal knowledge of those particular varieties. Subsequently, we parted ways with the promise to meet again for lunch when he came down to Los Angeles. Regrettably, I was never able to see him again.

1840
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal date and perfect reverse. At least three specimens have been verified. This variety is rarer than the one with the common reverse (see notes below).
3) Normal date obverse with the reverse with two defects which are joined and appear as projections on the right side of the final A in AMERICA. This reverse is common to all early proofs from 1840 to 1850 and at least one 1852 Dollar (referred to as the "common reverse").

1841
Business Strikes:
1) Most show minor repunching on the 18 at the date. The date was repunched higher the second time and the recutting is evident on the bottom of the date.
Proofs:
2) Normal date with the common reverse.
3) Breen makes reference to a proof of this date that he called the "Small Stars" obverse, from a die that had apparently been repolished resulting in noticeably smaller stars, similar to the 1838 "Small Stars" half dimes. I have not observed this variety.

1842
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date.
2) There is an obviously repunched date variety where the 842 is clearly repunched.
3) Blundered date where part of a numeral, possibly a 2, is punched into the base of the rock above the 42 of the date.
Proofs:
4) Normal date with the common reverse.

1843
Business Strikes:
1) All business strikes examined have the repunched date. The recutting is clearly visible below 43 and many also show minor repunching at the base of 18.
Proofs:
2) Normal date with the common reverse.

1844
Business Strikes:
1) Doubled die obverse. All business strikes seen have quadruple obverse stripes in the shield and the top of an 8 is visible in the gown above the middle of the date.
Proofs:
2) Normal obverse with the common reverse.

1845
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date.
2) Minor repunching on the top of the 4 of the date.
3) Heavy repunching seen on the tops of 845 of the date.
Proofs:
4) Almost all proofs seen of this date are the recut date variety identified as "Breen-5433" where the 8 in the date is widely repunched south and the 4 shows light recutting on the crossbar with the common reverse.
5) There is reported a "Normal Date" proof without any evidence of recutting on any digit with the common reverse. This one has not been verified by the author.

1846
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date.
2) Minor repunching at the top of 18 in date.
Proofs:
3) Most known proofs made this year are of the "Recut Date" where the date is clearly and dramatically recut with remnants of the first entry about 50% below the final position. Paired with the common reverse. 4) Normal date without the repunching at date and paired with the common reverse. Not observed by the author.

1846-O
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date with heavy or normal mintmark.
2) Normal date with thin and weak mintmark.
Proofs: None known.

1847
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal date obverse with the common reverse.

1848
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) The obverse shows a trio of small die chips below Liberty's left breast paired with the common reverse.

1849
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Proofs of this date show a peculiar and distinctive imperfection on the 4 in the date. The 4 looks repaired with raised marks on the numeral and the upper left side of the leg curved out at the cross. All proofs seen paired with the common reverse.

1850
Business Strikes:
1) All business issues examined to date have the Open 5 and recut 0 in the date. Proofs were also made from this obverse die.
2) Closed 5. Reported but not confirmed by the author.
Proofs:
3) All observed to date show an Open 5 and recutting on the digit 0 on the date and is paired with the common reverse. This is the same obverse as No. 1 above.
4) Open 5 obverse paired with a different regular reverse. This example has not been observed by the author.
5) Closed 5 obverse with a new reverse die that was not used to produce any of the earlier proofs in this series. Has not been seen by the author.

1850-O
Business Strikes:
1) Closed 5 obverse with a repunched mintmark which fades on later strikes.
Proofs: None made.

1851
Business Strikes:
1) The so-called Originals, struck in 1851, have the date high in the field with the tops of each numeral close to the base of Liberty. All are business strikes.
Proofs:
2) All proofs have the date almost exactly centered between the base of Liberty and the border and are referred to as Restrikes. No proof of this date has been observed paired with the common reverse.

1852
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal obverse with the reverse used to strike 1858-9 proof dollars or similar reverse.
3) There is one (the ANS specimen) obverse paired with the common reverse.

1853
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. Most seen with the so-called "Chin Whiskers," which are die finish lines extending down the chin of Liberty.
Proofs:
2) Normal date.

1854
Business Strikes:
1) All have repunching visible at the bottom of the 4 in date.
Proofs:
2) The Proof obverse has a triangular defect near the base of Liberty, which looks very much like the top of a misplaced 4, over the space between 54 in date.

1855
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal date.

1856
Business Strikes:
1) All specimens have a die scratch between the loop and the tail of the 6 which may have led to the confusion that the date was an "overdate." The dies were harshly repolished at some point and there are several specimens with highly visible polishing lines especially near the edges. However, the die scratch is still visible. Note: The reported 1856/4 overdate with the cross bar of the 4 visible in the loop of the 6 has not been seen. Although there are a few notable exceptions, most come very weakly struck with a flat head and eagle's leg.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. No proofs have the die scratch between the loop and the tail of the 6.

1857
Business Strikes:
1) No identifiable varieties. There is a die state with an unfinished area of the die below Liberty's chin. Some have called this the "Bearded Liberty" variety (see similar description for 1853 issues). This date is also very difficult to locate with a good strike especially on the head of Liberty and on the eagle's leg.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.

1858
Business Strikes: None minted.
Proofs:
1) Normal reverse.
2) Reverse with a small depression in the field near the eagle's beak.

1859
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) All show light repunching on the base of the 1 in the date.

1859-O
Business Strikes:
1) Obverse with thin numbers and hairlike serifs on date with normal to heavy mintmark on the reverse.
2) Normal date with heavy or thick mintmark. The sides of the mintmark are almost as thick as the sides of the larger letter O of ONE on the reverse.
3) Normal date with a thin mintmark on the reverse.
Proofs: None minted.

1859-S
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. Sometimes referred to as the "Perfect Date."
2) Obviously repunched date clearly visible on the bottom of "18" of the date. The repunched date is actually much more available than the perfect date despite many assertions to the contrary.
Proofs: None minted.

1860
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. Note: The reverse was modified in 1861. This date may exist with the new reverse of 1861 to 1873.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.

1860-O
Business Strikes:
1) Heavy numerals on date with normal mintmark on reverse.
2) Thin numerals on date with heavy or thick mintmark. The reverse is similar, if not the same, as No. 2 under 1859-O.
3) Thin numerals on date with very light or thin mintmark.
Proofs: None minted.

1861
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. Note: A new reverse with minor variations was used starting in 1861, and there may exist a transitional variety using the old reverse of 1840-1860. The two bottom arrowheads touch on the reverses of 1840 to 1860. The arrowheads are separated on the new reverses used from 1861 to 1873.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. See note above on transitional reverse varieties.

1862
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.

1863
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. Note: The date is placed lower on the proofs than on the business strikes which have dates that are centered.

1864
Business Strikes:
1) All observed specimens have the 18 lightly repunched at the bottom of the date. The date is placed slightly higher than center.
Proofs:
2) All observed specimens have the normal date without recutting on the 18.

1865
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date.
2) Blundered date where there appears to be remnants of two extra digits. The first "digit" appears above and slightly to the right of the 5. The second digit can be seen below and slightly to the right of the 5 of the date and is also visible between the denticles.
Proofs:
3) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.

1866
Business Strikes:
1) All specimens have been observed with a repunched 66 in the date.
Proofs:
2) Most observed specimens have the normal date without any recutting on the 66.
3) Repunched 18 on date at bottom. The reverse shows doubling in GOD WE TRUST. Note: Most "With Motto" Proofs show some doubling on the reverse.

1867
Business Strikes:
1) All mint state specimens have the obvious normal date over small date (half dollar logotype) repunching with the base of the earlier "1" extending out below the middle of the larger "1." Note: This date comes with a great strike and prooflike surfaces. In fact, many mint state proof-like specimens were originally mistaken for proofs.
Proofs:
2) Normal date. No identifiable varieties. Note: No proofs with the repunched date have been verified. In fact, several specimens with the repunched date that were originally graded as proofs have been properly reattributed as business strikes by both PCGS and NGC.

1868
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date.
2) Repunched date with recutting visible on the left side and bottom of 1 in date. The top of a 6 or 8 is visible at the bottom of the denticles.
Proofs:
3) All observed proofs have the 1 in the date repunched and is visible on the flag and base of the digit.
4) The tops of 1 and 8 are visible on the rim below the 18 of the date.

1869
Business Strikes:
1) Slight repunching visible below the 18 of the date.
2) Blundered date where the top of a digit (either a 6, 8 or 9) appears just above the denticles and slightly to the right of 6 in the date. The bottom of 18 in date is also recut on this variety.
3) Another blundered date where what looks like either the partial base or the top of the 1 appears between and centered of the 1 and the 8. On some of these varieties, there appear to be another digit below the denticles directly below the 6 in the date. This last feature is not clear on all specimens.
4) A third blundered date where the partial base of the 1 appears below and to the left of the 1 in the date.
Proofs:
5) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.

1870
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. Some with minor doubling in the motto on the reverse.
2) The "870" in the date is repunched at the bottom.
Proofs:
3) Normal date and reverse.
4) Normal date but with reverse that has light die doubling on the feathers of the left wing.

1870-CC
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date with mintmark closely spaced.
2) Normal date with mintmark widely spaced. Note: there are at least four identifiable reverses.
Proofs: None minted.

1870-S
Business Strikes:
1) A legendary rarity. Only 11 are known to exist in all grades. The mintmark appears to be uniquely hand engraved and is usually seen lightly impressed.
Proofs: None known.

1871
Business Strikes:
1) The 71 in the date is close together. A vertical line drawn from the left side of the first 1 in the date is to the right of the shield point.
2) Blundered date. The tops of what appear to be the 18 of the date is punched directly below the date in the denticles. The 71 in the date is close together.
3) The 71 is further apart. A line drawn from the left side of the first 1 in the date is to the left of the shield point.
4) The entire date is obviously repunched and can be seen at the bottom of the date. Note: All varieties have been seen with some doubling on the reverse especially on the motto.
Proofs:
5) Normal date and reverse.
6) Doubled die reverse where the motto "IN GOD WE" is nicely doubled.

1871-CC
Business Strikes:
1) No identifiable varieties. Note: The 71 of the date is close together and all specimens examined have a small die chip on the denticle below the 7 of the date.
Proofs: None known.

1872
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date with the 1 and 8 in the date clear of each other.
2) Heavy date with the 18 practically touching at the base.
3) Blundered date variety with the "2" punched twice into the rock. The second punch extends slightly below the rocky base and into the fields. Part of an extra 1 is visible in the rock below the shield. Note: All varieties have been seen with some doubling on the reverse especially on the motto.
Proofs:
4) Normal date. Almost all have been seen with the doubled die reverse.

1872-S
Business Strikes:
1) Normal date. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs: None made.

1873
Business Strikes:
1) Closed 3 on date. All have been observed with some doubling on the reverse especially on the motto.
Proofs:
2) Closed 3 on date. Almost all proofs of this date are observed with a reverse doubled die. The doubling is most noticeable on the left wing plumage and die doubling on the motto IN GOD WE.

1873-CC
Business Strikes:
1) Closed 3 on date. Wide mintmark. No identifiable varieties.
Proofs: None minted.

1873-S
Business Strikes: 700 reportedly struck and melted. None known to exist, although there is that one persistent rumor...Good luck!