1839-O 10C No Drapery, BM (Special Strike)

Series: (None)

PCGS #:: 4723

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 17.90 millimeters

Weight:: 2.67 grams

Mintage:: 2

Mint:: New Orleans

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $74,750 • PR65 • 10-01-2008 • Heritage Auctions

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Major Varieties

1839-O 10C No Drapery, BM

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	1	R-10.0	1 / 1	N/A
60 or Better	1	R-10.0	1 / 1	N/A
65 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 1	N/A

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1
60 or Better	1
65 or Better

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-10.0
60 or Better	R-10.0
65 or Better	R-10.1

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	1 / 1
60 or Better	1 / 1
65 or Better	1 / 1

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	N/A
60 or Better	N/A
65 or Better	N/A

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Image	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS SP63BM

#1 PCGS SP63BM

Ron Guth:

One of the most unusual and enigmatic Seated Liberty coins -- of any denomination -- is the Specimen strike 1839-O Dime. This remarkable coin is believed to be unique. The reason for its manufacture is unknown, and it may have been just a one-off coin made for an unknown presentation event or simply a playful experiment at the New Orleans Mint.

This piece is of the Fortin-106 variety, made from dies also used to strike coins for circulation. However, the overall "look" and appearance of this Specimen 1839-O Dime is unlike any other of the date. The strike is exceptionally strong and the fields are highly reflective, as one might expect on a Proof coin, however, the fields also show some light die striations that would not appear on a normal Proof. To accomodate this difference, and to recognize the special nature of this coin, both PCGS and NGC have recognized it as a "Specimen."

In recent decades, this piece has appeared at auction twice: once in 2008 and again in 2012, both times in a Heritage auction. Most likely, this piece is the former F.C.C. Boyd example, sold by Abe Kosoff in 1945 as part of the "World's Greatest Collection." Breen mentions cites the Boyd piece in his encyclopedia of Proof coins (1977), but he never saw the coin.