Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Cents 1837-1838, KM# 61, United States of America (USA)
  • 10 Cents 1837-1838, KM# 61, United States of America (USA)
  • 10 Cents 1837-1838, KM# 61, United States of America (USA), Large date or flat top (up), small date or curly top (bottom)
  • 10 Cents 1837-1838, KM# 61, United States of America (USA), New Orleans Mint
Description

The Seated Liberty portrait designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. The first Seated Liberty dime variety is without obverse stars and closely parallels the half dime of the same era. Indeed, the mintage was accomplished similarly: pieces were struck only at the Philadelphia Mint in 1837 and only at the New Orleans Mint in 1838.

The Liberty Seated dime of 1838 minted in New Orleans, was the first U.S. coin struck anywhere outside of Philadelphia. In other words, this is the first branch mint coin.

Engraver: Christian Gobrecht

Obverse

Depicts the figure of Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phyrgian cap, which had been a pre-eminent symbol of freedom during the movement of Neoclassicism (and in fact traces its roots back to Ancient Greece and Rome). Liberty's right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word "Liberty". The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty.

There are two varieties; the large date and the small date. For the dime, these two types can be distinguished by noting the "3" and the "7" in the date. In the large date variety, the "3" has a pointy serif at top, and the horizontal element of the "7" is straight. In the small date variety, the "3" has a rounded serif, and there is small a knob, or bulge, in the "7" horizontal element. Only the Philadelphia Mint made both varieties. The small date is slightly rarer.

LIBERTY
1837

Reverse

Depicts a wreath around the words ONE DIME. This wreath consisted of laurel leaves, a traditional Neoclassical image.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ONE
DIME

Edge

10 Cents

Seated Liberty Dime, Without Stars
KM# 61
Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 2.67 g
Diameter 17.9 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mints
New Orleans Mint (O)
Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark)

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