Why aren't we finding Seated Dollars ?

[Argentium]

I can see that they ran them for only thirty five years or so - that must be a big part of it -
and it looks as though there were only a couple of years where over a million were minted,
so I guess I've answered my own question- It occurs to me- that I have maybe seen one
found on this forum in about five years . Argentium.

[Woodland Detectors]

That was a good chunk of change back then. If one was dropped, it was probably recovered rather quickly.

[Argentium]

Thank you Woodland , for your response - I think my question comes about in part because
indeed we do see both the Morgan and "peace" dollars found with some regularity . However,
the original populations of these varieties , is considerably more than those of the Seated Liberty.
Argentium.

[wells]

I'd like to find a chest full of uncirculated seated dollars - ya i would !

[kuger]

I have asked on several forums and have never ever seen one come up.I have def. never seen one on here.It is said they never went into circulation here and many went to China(I beleive)The one that was posted here was a fake made in China which is very, common

[CMDiamonddawg]

CMD found one and posted it 2 years ago traded it for a Fender amp 8) one 1853 half in 2010 1858 and 1860 halves , 2 posted two weeks ago . Seated silver are All great thrills ... dawg

[p2c]

I have asked on several forums and have never ever seen one come up.I have def. never seen one on here.It is said they never went into circulation here and many went to China(I beleive)The one that was posted here was a fake made in China which is very, common

Are you speaking of a Seated dollar or a Trade Dollar... Trade Dollars went to China, were a higher silver weight than normal silver dollars. Both have seated liberty on the obverse, but liberty looks a little different on the Trade Dollar.


Trade Dollar (china circulation)


Seated Dollar (domestic)

[kuger]

No I meant Seated Dollars....I have found quite a few Seated halves and every other denomination in the Seated...

I guess I missed tha one that was posted....I asked here several times,just didnt in the last year!Thats incredible!!!!

[MKnTenn]

I found one in a cashe of coins I found in 2010, there were 19 dollar sized coins, all where foreign except one. It was great to have one but it would have been unreal if all where US seated dollars. You most likely will find a gold dollar before you find a seated dollar. Sorry about the large pics, I'm not that great with my computer.

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

My buddy Paco found one in 05 or 06. That was a special day.
Chris

[kuger]

I found one in a cashe of coins I found in 2010, there were 19 dollar sized coins, all where foreign except one. It was great to have one but it would have been unreal if all where US seated dollars. You most likely will find a gold dollar before you find a seated dollar. Sorry about the large pics, I'm not that great with my computer.

Thats exceptional guys!!!You are wayyyyy more likely to find a gold coin of any denomination over a Seated Dollar.

Where were all you guys when I asked!!I am stoked to finally hear about a few being found.That is A #1 on my all time want to dig list!!!

[kuger]

I have asked on several forums and have never ever seen one come up.I have def. never seen one on here.It is said they never went into circulation here and many went to China(I beleive)The one that was posted here was a fake made in China which is very, common

Are you speaking of a Seated dollar or a Trade Dollar... Trade Dollars went to China, were a higher silver weight than normal silver dollars. Both have seated liberty on the obverse, but liberty looks a little different on the Trade Dollar.




Trade Dollar (china circulation)




Seated Dollar (domestic)

Thanks I stand corrected

[kane23]

The only place seated dollars circulated much was the west and that was in later years of production. Most people in earlier years used gold dollars instead, that's why you see so many gold dollars (relatively speaking) found in Civil war camps. In 42 years of detecting I have found two seated dollars and 4 gold dollars. The dates on the two seated were 1860-o and 1870-cc. kane23

[kuger]

The only place seated dollars circulated much was the west and that was in later years of production. Most people in earlier years used gold dollars instead, that's why you see so many gold dollars (relatively speaking) found in Civil war camps. In 42 years of detecting I have found two seated dollars and 4 gold dollars. The dates on the two seated were 1860-o and 1870-cc. kane23

CC Dollar!!!!Thats the mecca of all coins to me....maybe aside from a private mint gold

[jeff of pa]

I want to find one of these Quarter eagles.

I like the Pointy heads

[rhedden]

A few reasons:

1) The total mintage of Seated Dollars (all dates combined) was a tiny fraction of the amount of Morgan and Peace Dollars minted. There were not that many made in the first place.

2) Silver coinage all but disappeared from circulation at times from 1853 to 1873, so they were not out there getting lost.

3) Spanish silver and Bust half dollars were the preferred silver coins of 19th century commerce. The Seated Dollars didn't circulate to the same extent, kind of like our modern day refusal to use Kennedy half dollars and "golden dollars".

[kuger]

A few reasons:

1) The total mintage of Seated Dollars (all dates combined) was a tiny fraction of the amount of Morgan and Peace Dollars minted. There were not that many made in the first place.

2) Silver coinage all but disappeared from circulation at times from 1853 to 1873, so they were not out there getting lost.

3) Spanish silver and Bust half dollars were the preferred silver coins of 19th century commerce. The Seated Dollars didn't circulate to the same extent, kind of like our modern day refusal to use Kennedy half dollars and "golden dollars".

I kind of have to disagree with some of that......I see more 1850-1870's Seated halves found than any other Seated coin,only second to maybe Seated dimes,and quarters

[MKnTenn]

Read somewhere that in the early 1800's most halves and dollars where traded between banks and only a few where in circulation, as noted with the high number of bust halves in high grades that we have today. With the seated dollars that where in banks hands, they where supposed to have been melted to mint the new morgan dollars. I heard a fantastic story a long time ago, when the mint was selling their silver dollars in the early 1960's for face value, I guess to clear out the vaults, and coin collectors where buying $1000.00 bags, and going though them looking for rare dates, and they where finding some 1893-S's and other rare dates, then taking the ones they didn't want back to the bank to get a new bag, well someone got a $1000.00 bag of seated dollars!

[Graddick]

Read somewhere that in the early 1800's most halves and dollars where traded between banks and only a few where in circulation, as noted with the high number of bust halves in high grades that we have today. With the seated dollars that where in banks hands, they where supposed to have been melted to mint the new morgan dollars. I heard a fantastic story a long time ago, when the mint was selling their silver dollars in the early 1960's for face value I guess to clear out the vaults and coin collectors where buying $1000.00 bags, going though them looking for rare dates, then taking the ones they didn't want back to the bank to get a new bag, someone got a $1000.00 bag of seated dollars!

Posts like that might give someone a heart attack. Be careful.

[kane23]

Several bags of seated dollars showed up in Las vegas in the 1960's. the mint sent them without looking at them. Most were dated 1859-O and 1860-O. Read Walter Breen's encyclopedia of US coins. All kinds of facts are available in this book.