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The 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar with graffiti, commonly referred to as a "Love Token," is an intriguing and historically significant coin that embodies the complex relationship between currency, art, and personal expression in the late 19th century. The Seated Liberty series of coins was first introduced in 1836, with the design representing Liberty seated on a rock, holding a shield in one hand and a flagpole with a liberty cap in the other. Over the years, the Seated Liberty design appeared on a variety of U.S. coins, including the dollar denomination. The 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar, specifically, was minted during a period when the U.S. economy was transitioning from the Civil War into the post-war era, with the country recovering from financial instability and shifting toward industrialization. As a coin struck during this period of social and economic change, the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar serves as a tangible reminder of both the currency system and the personal stories embedded in the coins of the time.
The 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar was part of a series of silver dollars minted from 1840 to 1873, designed by Christian Gobrecht. The obverse of the coin depicts Lady Liberty seated on a rock, with her left hand resting on a shield and her right hand holding a pole topped with a liberty cap. The inscription "LIBERTY" appears above her, while the date "1870" and the word "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" are seen around the edges. On the reverse, the coin features an eagle with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. The eagle is encircled by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DOLLAR." The Seated Liberty design was a significant one during its time, symbolizing the ideals of liberty and the strength of the United States. The coin’s silver content, along with its bold imagery, made it a popular choice for circulation, though its use as currency also inspired many individuals to modify the coin for personal reasons, creating "love tokens" like the one seen in the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar with graffiti.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar in question is the graffiti or love token engraving that adorns its surface. The love token phenomenon was common during the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where individuals would alter coins—usually through engraving—as a form of personal expression. These engravings often conveyed messages of love, friendship, or memorials, and they were typically crafted for sentimental purposes, given to loved ones as keepsakes or tokens of affection. In the case of the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar, the coin has been transformed with an inscription or drawing that is believed to reflect personal emotions or a historical moment for the individual who made the alteration. The love token engraving adds a unique element to the coin, turning what was once a regular piece of currency into a piece of folk art, rich with personal meaning and a tangible connection to the past.
The mint responsible for striking the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar was the United States Mint, a facility that played a central role in the creation of U.S. coinage. At the time, the Mint had several facilities, but the main production of silver coins like the Seated Liberty Dollar took place in Philadelphia. The Mint’s high-quality production process ensured that each coin was struck with precision, though variations in the quality of strikes, as seen in love tokens, could be found in the resulting coins. In 1870, the U.S. Mint had a limited production capacity for silver coins, especially as the country was still dealing with the repercussions of the Civil War. However, the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar was one of the coins minted for regular circulation, and its design and minting process represented the stability the U.S. Mint had begun to achieve after the turmoil of the previous decades.
The mintage of the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar is an important factor to consider when evaluating the coin’s rarity and desirability among collectors. The 1870 issue saw an estimated mintage of 5,000 coins, a relatively low number compared to other years in the series, making it a more scarce coin among collectors. While some Seated Liberty Dollars from the late 19th century are more commonly found in circulation, the 1870 coin, especially in higher grades, is relatively rare. The scarcity of the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar adds to its appeal as a collector's item. However, love tokens such as this one further increase the uniqueness of the coin, as each engraving transforms the coin into a one-of-a-kind piece. The rarity of the coin, combined with its personal engraving, makes it an even more desirable item for numismatists interested in U.S. history and the story behind the coin's alteration.
The condition of the 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar with graffiti or love token is also crucial in determining its value on the collector's market. This particular coin is graded as AU (About Uncirculated), which indicates that it shows some wear, but it still retains much of its original design and sharpness. In an AU grade, the coin exhibits signs of circulation, such as slight wear on the high points of the design, but the overall details of Lady Liberty, the eagle, and the inscriptions remain relatively clear. The presence of the engraving on the coin’s surface—while it might detract from its original mint appearance—adds a layer of uniqueness to the piece that may be of greater value to certain collectors, especially those with an interest in love tokens or altered coins. Graffiti or engravings on love tokens can often be considered an enhancement in certain circles, as it adds a personal touch and connects the coin to a piece of history.
The Seated Liberty Dollar 1870 with graffiti is not just a coin; it is a historical artifact that reflects the culture and practices of the time. In the late 19th century, coins were often more than just currency; they were tokens of personal relationships and memory. Many of these coins were altered by their owners for sentimental reasons, with engravings serving as a reminder of love, loss, or personal milestones. The love token or graffiti engraving on this particular coin adds a layer of emotional connection that makes it far more than a mere piece of currency. For collectors and historians, this coin offers a tangible link to a past where coins were intimately connected to the lives of everyday people. These engraved love tokens also represent the adaptability and resourcefulness of individuals during a time when coins were commonly used for personal mementos rather than purely for trade or investment.
The 1870 Seated Liberty Dollar with graffiti stands out as a piece of numismatic history that reflects both the personal and cultural aspects of the period in which it was minted. The combination of the low mintage, historical design, and the presence of the unique engraving creates a coin that holds both aesthetic and historical value. Whether for its connection to the past, the artistry of the engraving, or its place in the broader history of U.S. coinage, this particular coin offers a glimpse into a time when personal expression was often conveyed through the very coins people used in daily life. As such, it is a valuable addition to any collection of U.S. coins, love tokens, or 19th-century Americana.