Natural Toning
1856


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: SILVER DOLLARS - SEATED LIBERTY, NO MOTTO
Item Description: $1 1856
Grade: PCGS AU 58
Owner: Hagop
 
Winning Set: Natural Toning
Date Added: 4/6/2021
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

An excellent strike for the date with lavender colored patina. The exceptionally smooth obverse is layered with natural toning that blankets the pristine surfaces and subdues the luster. A perfect example of a beautiful and naturally toned seated dollar. Purchased from the Jim Gray collection.

By 1856 the silver dollar had long since ceased to be a major player in domestic circulation within the United States. Rising silver prices brought about by the economic changes wrought by the California Gold Rush resulted in the Act of February 21, 1853, that reduced the weight standard for the fractional silver denominations (half dime through half dollar) to discourage hoarding and allow the coins to circulate freely. In deference to the fact that the denomination had already fallen into disuse in domestic commercial channels, as well as its status as the standard monetary unit of the nation, the Act made no mention of the silver dollar. The Mint continued to produce silver dollars through the 1850s at the weight standard introduced in the late 1830s (26.73 grams). Beginning in 1850, yearly mintages were largely exported as part of overseas trade with the Orient, explaining why 1856 dollars are much rarer in all grades than a circulation strike mintage of 63,500 pieces might imply. Striking weakness is common on both 1856 and 1857 Seated Dollars.

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