1837 10C Seated, Small Date

1837 10C Seated

1838-O 10C (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Dimes 1837-1891

PCGS MS65

PCGS MS65

PCGS MS64+

PCGS #:: 4564

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 17.90 millimeters

Weight:: 2.67 grams

Mintage:: 406,034

Mint:: New Orleans

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $37,600 • MS65+ • 04-27-2023 • Legend Rare Coin Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (5)

Major Varieties

1838-O 10C

Minor Varieties

1838-O 10C S.S. Central America #2 (with Pinch)

Die Varieties

Go To Grade

Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

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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	800	R-5.4	2 / 3	72 / 122 TIE
60 or Better	75	R-8.2	1 / 3 TIE	60 / 122 TIE
65 or Better	7	R-9.6	1 / 3 TIE	45 / 122 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	800
60 or Better	75
65 or Better	7

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-5.4
60 or Better	R-8.2
65 or Better	R-9.6

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	2 / 3
60 or Better	1 / 3 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 3 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	72 / 122 TIE
60 or Better	60 / 122 TIE
65 or Better	45 / 122 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS65+	Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2015, Lot 4988 – $32,900; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, April 27, 2023, Lot 23 – $37,600; "The 400 Esplanade Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fortin-101. Gold and orange toning throughout. Hints of green. Reverse target toning.
2	PCGS MS65	David Lawrence Rare Coins, August 2007, Lot 5007; Legend Numismatics, August 2007; As PCGS MS65 #60114309. “The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II,” Heritage Auctions, October 2014, Lot 98238 – $28,200; As PCGS MS65 #81760394. Stack’s Bowers, November 3, 2016, Lot 2052 – $19,975; The Stiel Collection; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 15, 2021, Lot 121 – $24,675. Fortin 101a. Diagonal streaks of butterscotch-colored toning.
2	PCGS MS65	Heritage Auctions, September 17, 2015, Lot 3811 – $25,850; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 19, 2016, Lot 89 – $24,675; Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2017, Lot 3927 – $17,625. Fortin-101a.
4	PCGS MS64+	Heritage Auctions, February 2020, Lot 3036 - $6,900; "The Srotag Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 3060 - $9,300; "The Monroe Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fortin-102.
4	PCGS MS64+	As NGC MS65 #4214850-001. Stack’s Bowers, October 25, 2018, Lot 2067 – $14,400; As PCGS MS64+ #38000157. Fortin-102.

#1 PCGS MS65+

Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2015, Lot 4988 – $32,900; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, April 27, 2023, Lot 23 – $37,600; "The 400 Esplanade Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fortin-101. Gold and orange toning throughout. Hints of green. Reverse target toning.

#2 PCGS MS65

David Lawrence Rare Coins, August 2007, Lot 5007; Legend Numismatics, August 2007; As PCGS MS65 #60114309. “The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II,” Heritage Auctions, October 2014, Lot 98238 – $28,200; As PCGS MS65 #81760394. Stack’s Bowers, November 3, 2016, Lot 2052 – $19,975; The Stiel Collection; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 15, 2021, Lot 121 – $24,675. Fortin 101a. Diagonal streaks of butterscotch-colored toning.

#2 PCGS MS65

Heritage Auctions, September 17, 2015, Lot 3811 – $25,850; Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 19, 2016, Lot 89 – $24,675; Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2017, Lot 3927 – $17,625. Fortin-101a.

#4 PCGS MS64+

Heritage Auctions, February 2020, Lot 3036 - $6,900; "The Srotag Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 3060 - $9,300; "The Monroe Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fortin-102.

#4 PCGS MS64+

As NGC MS65 #4214850-001. Stack’s Bowers, October 25, 2018, Lot 2067 – $14,400; As PCGS MS64+ #38000157. Fortin-102.

Charles Morgan:

The 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime

The 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime (#4564) was the first coin struck at the New Orleans Mint, one of three branch mints that Congress established with the passing of the Coinage Act of March 3, 1835.

Built on land donated to the federal government by the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Mint was designed by architect William Strickland in the Greek Revival style he helped popularize. Construction began in September 1835 and finished in 1838, costing $182,000 for the building plus $118,000 for site improvements. Rufus Tyler was appointed Chief Coiner upon opening, causing friction among local employees who bristled at taking orders from a "northerner" — a reflection of the era's regional tensions.

The New Orleans Mint struck its first coinage on May 8, 1838: an initial run of 30 presentation pieces of the 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime. Plagued by worn Philadelphia equipment and summer yellow fever shutdowns, regular production was delayed until late autumn, ultimately reaching an accepted total mintage of 406,034 pieces.

The 1838-O dime features Christian Gobrecht's original "No Stars" layout, displaying a seated Lady Liberty with only the date in the exergue.

Collecting the 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime

The Philadelphia Mint did New Orleans no favors by shipping it second-hand eqipment. This, and a general lack of attention to detail, often resulted in flat strikes. Softness routinely affects Liberty's face, shield, and feet, while sharply defined rim denticles remain rare.

Die Varieties

Numismatist Gerry Fortin identifies two distinct die varieties for the 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime:

Fortin 101 (#537653)
- Obverse: Features a "medium level" date placement and rim die cuds at the 2 and 4 o'clock positions (which advance to 8 and 9 o'clock on the F-101a sub-variety).
- Reverse: Displays an upright, repunched "O" mintmark applied at the Philadelphia Mint prior to dispatch on April 9, 1838.
- Historical Context: Philadelphia shipped these outdated "No Stars" dies even though its engraving department had already created the updated 13-star obverse design.
Fortin 102 (#537645)
- Obverse: Shares the same "medium level" date placement as the F-101, but completely lacks die cuds on the rim.
- Reverse: Features a single, non-repunched ("normal") mintmark without any doubling. Alignment: The mintmark appears slightly canted (tilted) to the right, whereas the F-101 mintmark is oriented vertically upright.

Vintage Market Snippets

In a survey of Liberty Seated Collectors Club members published in the March 2008 issue of The Gobrecht Journal, the 1838-O Liberty Seated Dime ranked tenth among the "Ten Greatest New Orleans Seated Coins."

SS Central America Recovery

The 2014 salvage of the SS Central America shipwreck yielded 40 PCGS-graded 1838-O dimes ranging from PCGS FR-02 to PCGS XF-40. Featuring both F-101 and F-102 varieties, these recovered coins offer a clear snapshot of how extensively early branch-mint coinage circulated across the United States within 20 years of its release.

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