1861-O 50¢ Seated Liberty Half-Dollar - SS Republic - Original Shipwreck Coin - Shipwreck Effect - with Wooden Display Case (NGC Encapsulated)

Authentic Seated Liberty half-dollar from the SS Republic shipwreck. The coin has been encapsulated by NGC and labeled "Shipwreck Effect". Includes the wooden display box and the SS Republic Odyssey Marine Exploration booklet shown.

The SS Republic was a Civil War-era sidewheel steamship that sank in 1865 while carrying a large cargo of silver and gold coins and a stunning variety of everyday wares essential to life in mid-19th century America. Over 51,000 U.S. gold and silver coins were recovered from the wreck site, as well as over 14,000 artifacts - a fascinating assortment of 19th-century goods in use during the Civil War years.

The Seated Liberty portrait designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. The denominations which featured the Goddess of Liberty in a Seated Liberty design included the half dime, the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and until 1873 the silver dollar. Another coin that appeared exclusively in the Seated Liberty design was the twenty-cent piece. This coin was produced from 1875 to 1878 and was discontinued because it looked very similar to the quarter. Seated Liberty coinage was minted at the main United States Mint in Philadelphia, as well as the branch mints in New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City.

Due to the uniqueness of each item, please refer to the photos provided in this auction. We offer high resolution images of each item rather than a written description of condition.

This item is being shipped from the Pristine Auction warehouse.