Liberty Seated Dimes (1837-1891)

In 1837 at the Philadelphia Mint and 1838 at the New Orleans Mint (1838-O) the Liberty Seated design, without obverse stars, was introduced. After these two issues were minted, stars were added to the obverse of subsequent pieces. In 1853-1855 arrows were placed alongside the date to indicate a weight reduction. In 1860 the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA replaced the stars on the obverse. In 1873-1874 issues were made with arrows at the date, this time to indicate a slight increase in authorized weight. In general, dime designs followed those of half dimes of the period (up to 1873, at which point the half dime denomination was discontinued). Liberty Seated dimes were produced through 1891.

Liberty Seated dimes 1837-1891 have attracted a wide following, and many collectors aspire to own one of each collectible variety. The only impossible rarity in the series is the 1873-CC without arrows, of which just one is known to exist, the specimen in the Eliasberg Collection. A number of other varieties range from scarce to rare.

Perhaps the most publicized rarity in the series is the 1844, which isn't really a rarity at all. Years ago it was realized that only 72,500 dimes were struck in 1844, a low mintage for the era, as compared to 1,370,000 struck the preceding year, 1843, and 1,755,000 struck in the following year, 1845. Fanciful stories were created to explain the supposed rarity of the issue, one tale relating that all of the 1844 dimes had been sent to Mexico to pay troops there, but the entire shipment was stolen by bandits, and most coins were melted.

In actuality the 1844 dime is elusive, but no more so than its mintage suggests. Probably all were put into general circulation, and today the coin is available in proportion to its mintage. A client of mine told me that he once attempted to corner the market on 1844 dimes, having heard that they were very rare, but gave up after he had acquired over 200 pieces, with no end in sight. It is significant to mention that not a single one of these was in Uncirculated grade. In Mint State preservation the 1844 is indeed a rarity, as are the 1845-O, 1846, 1849-O and several other dimes of the decade. Beginning in the 1980s, a West Coast numismatist has been gathering dimes of this date.

Among later Liberty Seated dimes the 1860-O has attracted attention now and then, in the manner of the 1844 dime, with some believing it to be a great rarity. However, although the 1860-O is scarce, it is not a rarity, except in higher grades. Truly rare are the first two Carson City Mint dimes, the 1871-CC and 1872-CC. Then there is the previously-mentioned unique 1873-CC without arrows at date. Somewhat scarce is the 1873-CC with arrows. For reasons unexplained, this issue is nearly always seen in circulated grades, typically Fine to Extremely Fine, but nearly always with a porous or granular surface. Another rarity is the 1874-CC. Further down the line, the 1879, 1880, and 1881 Philadelphia Mint dimes have always attracted a following because of their low mintage. I once purchased a hoard of dozens of Proof 1879 dimes from H.E. MacIntosh, of the Tatham Stamp & Coin Company, a Springfield, Massachusetts firm that was a prominent advertiser in numismatic periodicals until MacIntosh's death in the late 1950s.