1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime ANACS AU53 Details – Cleaned

You’re looking at an 1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime graded ANACS AU53 Details – Cleaned. This coin falls into a common category for older silver coinage – a desirable type and date, but with a condition issue that affects its value.

Let’s break down each part:

• 1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime:
  • This is a five-cent silver coin from the mid-19th century. The Liberty Seated design features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole with a Liberty Cap. These coins were minted from 1837 to 1873.

     

  • The 1858 date (presumably Philadelphia mint, as no mintmark is specified) is a relatively common date for the series, but as an older silver coin, it’s still very collectible.

     

• ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service): This indicates that the coin has been authenticated and graded by ANACS, which is America’s oldest third-party coin grading service, established in 1972. ANACS is known for grading “problem coins” and indicating the nature of the problem on the label.

   

• AU53 Details – Cleaned: This is the crucial part of the grade and condition description.
  • AU53 (About Uncirculated 53): This is a relatively high grade for a circulated coin. “About Uncirculated” means the coin shows only a trace of wear on the highest points of the design. In AU53, the coin retains much of its original mint luster, but there will be slight friction on the high points of the design (like Liberty’s knee, head, or the eagle’s wingtips). This is generally considered a very desirable grade for collectors looking for strong examples of circulated coins.
  • Details: This is a modifier indicating that while the coin’s wear level corresponds to an AU53, it has a post-mint problem that prevents it from receiving a “straight” numerical grade (which would imply it’s problem-free).
  • Cleaned: This is the specific problem. “Cleaned” means that the coin’s original surfaces have been altered, typically by abrasive methods (like polishing or scrubbing) or chemicals. This process removes original toning and often leaves behind microscopic hairlines, dulling the luster, and devaluing the coin from a numismatic perspective.

     

Value:

The “cleaned” designation significantly reduces the value of a coin, even one that would otherwise be in a high AU grade. While an 1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime that was a problem-free AU53 would likely be valued in the $150 – $250+ range, the “cleaned” designation will bring that value down.

Based on recent market trends (as of early July 2025) for similar “details – cleaned” Seated Liberty Half Dimes:

An 1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime ANACS AU53 Details – Cleaned would likely have a retail value in the range of $70 to $150. Some examples might sell for a bit less or more depending on the severity of the cleaning and overall eye appeal despite the cleaning.

Collectors who buy “cleaned” coins often do so for type sets where a problem-free example is too expensive, or if the coin is a rare variety where any genuine example is desirable, even with issues.