Publishing Policy

How does a collector submit a potential variety discovery for inclusion into the www.seateddimevarieties.com web-book guide?

Please contact Gerry Fortin directly at wuximems@hotmail.com and explain the nature of the new variety consistent with the methods employed in the web-book. I will confirm with you and request that the new Seated dime variety be sent via insured mail to 225 Valley Rd., Raymond, Maine 04071 for verification and photography. Please include monies for return postage and insurance. The turn around time for review of potential new varieties could be variable due to backlog and available personal time. I am still working part time for Chinese employer and China travel continues. Your patience is appreciated for submissions.

2004 Discovery Archives

2005 Discovery Archives

1876 Repunched 1/Type II Reverse Example Located and Completes Ahwash Type II Plate Coin Identifications

February 23, 2010

Kam Ahwash listed this variety as 1876 Type 2 Reverse A-6 in his encyclopedia but provided no pictures. He also stated that the variety had a Small Knob date punch obverse with a repunched 1 paired with a Type 2 reverse. Since Ahwash provided no plate coins for his A-5 through A-8 Type 2 varieties, locating and organizing corresponding plate coins proved to be a long journey.

I located an example of Kam's A-6 variety during 2009 which completes the illustration of all Ahwash 1876 Type 2 reverse varieties (A-4 through A-8). The repunching above the flag of the 1 digit is evident and is possible to see with a 10X or better glass. Type 2 Reverse C is substantially cracked and mapped within the corresponding page inside the web-book.

Dr. Tim Cook Discovers a Misplaced 8 Digit on 1875-S Below Wreath Obverse

February 18, 2010

This 1875-S Below Wreath variety is yet another die pairing between an early die state obverse and well worn reverse die. Obverse 15 is well struck and strongly clashed and also exhibits portions of a misplaced digit to the right of the pendant. I believe the misplaced digit is the lower right loop of the 8 digit. Tim Cook discovered the misplaced date on the plate coin and submitted the finding for publishing in the web-book.

Reverse O is extremely worn, cracked and lacking details in most wreath elements. The right corn ear details are nearly eliminated. See the enhanced mapping of the reverse die cracks above as a finger printing of the die for differentiation with other similar late die states reverses.

1842 F-103 Example Without 10:00 Rim Cud Identified by Dr. Tim Cook

February 15, 2010

Until January 2010, no examples of Obverse 3 without the bold rim cud from Star 3 to Star 5 were reported or published. The date positions on Varieties 103a, 105 and 106 are all similar, complicating the task of finding and diagnosing an Obverse 3 example without the characteristic rim cud. Reverse C features an abundance of die lines when paired with Obverse 3 and its rim cud. A large series of parallel die lines originate from the right rim into AM(ERICA). Another significant die line passes through the (S)TATES.

During early February 2010, Tim Cook sent along the plate coin for confirmation as the first identification of Variety 103 without the characteristic 10:00 rim cud. The search was over and Tim is congratulated on the acquisition of such an outstanding example as the discovery piece. The obverse is prooflike and quite reflective with date punch position matching that of F-103a. The date digits on Obverse 3 are well punched with the 84 digits touching. The reverse is also prooflike but less reflective than the obverse. The reverse die lines through AM(ERICA) are sharp with one die line extending through AM(E)RICA, then wreath and nearly touching ON(E). The die line through (S)TATES is also visible.

New 1861 Type I Die Pairing Identified by Dr. Tim Cook

January 2, 2010

The date placement on this obverse (Obverse 7) is nearly identical to Obverse 2 but is slightly more left on Obverse 7. Both obverse and reverse dies are strongly clashed. Obverse 7 die clash marks are different than those on Obverse 2, another diagnostic point. Reverse G is strong clashed in right area between denomination and wreath.

Take care in attempting to diagnose Obverse 2 and Obverse 7 dies as the author assume that both dies were one and same for a number of years until Tim Cook provided this heavily clashed example to clearly identify the new F-107 variety.

Another 1890 Dime With Reverse Cud

December 27, 2009

Reverse C is found in a late die state with emerging die cud from 1:00 to 2:30. A large die crack is also seen exiting to the rim at 9:00 after passing through the adjacent maple leaf.

This dime was part of the Tim Cook collection sold during the Heritage 2005 CSNS auction and most likely was part of the cud collection sold to Tim by Larry Briggs. I bought the dime at the Heritage auction as part of a larger lot and failed to capture the die cud in the web-book until December 2009.

Dale Miller Identifies Second Reverse Pairing for 1857-O Strike Doubled Date and Stars

December 27, 2009

While Obverse 1 is paired with Reverse B, strike doubling is once again evident per the discovery dime submitted by Dale Miller in late December 2009. Dale noted that his 1857-O dime with strike doubling was not paired with a shattered reverse (Reverse A) but rather Reverse B with the die spur on (O)F.

Though the F-102a variety does exhibit the strike doubling on the date and stars, it does not quality for the Top 100 Varieties set. To be eligible for inclusion, the variety must be F-101 with obverse strike doubling and the shattered reverse.

Thick Mintmark 1857-O Dime Identified by Liz Coggan at JJ Teaparty

November 23, 2009

1857-O Reverse C was located in a later die state with the Large O mintmark exhibiting thicker sidewalls and a reduced center opening. There is an obvious die crack from rim through AMERI(C)A to wreath. The blob defect on the lower upright of ON(E) is not as distinct as during the early F-103 die state. This later die state reverse was first identified by Liz Coggan at JJ Teaparty during early 2008 and communicated to the author during the 2008 Summer ANA show. Liz set the dime aside due to the atypical reverse mintmark size for the 1857-O date.

Another 1889 Doubled Die Reverse Pairing Discovered by Dale Miller

November 23, 2009

Another double die reverse die pairing was first identified by Dale Miller and confirmed by the website author. Variety 123 captures the pairing of Obverse 7 with Doubled Die Reverse #2. The only diagnostic for Obverse 7 is date position. Reverse E is categorized as Doubled Die Reverse #2 and its primary diagnostic is minor doubling on the outer left edge of (O)NE and strong doubling on the outer edges of the maple leaves and within the veins of the leaves. Look for the long die crack on the outer maple leaf as another diagnostic point.

Early Die State 1876-CC Double Die Reverse With Additional Repunched Date Discovered by Gerry Fortin

August 28, 2009

An early die state example of popular Double Die Reverse variety, with severely eroded dies, was located at the 2009 Summer ANA show. Obverse 6 and Reverse G are in early die states where sufficient device element detail is present on rusting dies. Die rust is evident throughout Liberty but especially in the shield and lower gown. The early die state allows date repunching to be seen under the 18 digits and between the 76 digits. There are die cracks from the left base and the foot to rim. Reverse G is already heavily rusted within the wreath elements. The denomination is strongly doubled at ON(E) and DIM(E).

Another 1888 Obverse with Misplaced 8 Digit Discovered by Dr. Tim Cook 

August 28, 2009

The top of a misplaced 8 digit is seen immediately to the right of the scroll end on this obverse 21. There are no other supporting diagnostics for this obverse die. This misplaced date variety was discovered during August 2009 by Dr. Tim Cook and is first announced in the web-book.

1888 Obverse with Two Sets of Misplaced 18 Digits Discovered by Dr. Tim Cook 

This 1888 misplaced date variety was first announced by Dr. Tim Cook in the June 2009 E-Gobrecht issue. Obverse die features another significant occurence of misplaced placed digits. Two sets of 18 digits are easily seen in the lower shield with shield line #7-8 bisecting the 18 digits. Traces of extraneous digits are also visible on the lower gown area above and to the right of the pendant. Minor repunching is also seen below the last 8 digit in the normal date punch. Also note the date position as an additional diagnostic point as the date punch is placed far left and has a sharp downward slope.

1845-O Huge O Rotated Reverse Documented

During August 2009, Bill Mackrides, a noted collector and dealer in Seated coinage, contacted the author concerning the appearance of an 1845-O Huge O with a rotated reverse die. The reverse rotation was measured at approximately 25 degrees. Upon verification of the author's F-102 plate coin and another Huge O example graded PCGS EF40, it was confirmed that the Huge O variety is typically seen with normal die alignment. Further investigation with Jason Feldman, a specialist for rotated reverses in the Liberty Seated dime series, revealed that Jason published commentary in the March 2008 E-Gobrecht issue concerning the appearance of two 1845-O dimes with rotated reverses. At that time, he commented that the reverse rotation seen was typically 15 degrees for examples with the thick date and mintmark.

Unknown 1841-O Reverse Die Pairing with 1842-O Reverse F Discovered

The author has discovered a new 1841-O Medium O die marriage variety. Interestingly, the discovery coin exhibits an 1841-O Obverse 2 die paired with a lapped Medium O die that was only known to be used in 1842. I have labeled the 1841-O usage of the lapped Medium O reverse as Reverse N while it is labeled as Reverse F during its subsequent usage in 1842. Both 1841 and 1842 die pairings with New Orleans Reverse F are considered as an R6 rarity in grades of VF or better.

New 1876 Rotated Reverse Purchased On Ebay

An 1876 dime, with a reverse that is rotated left 85 degrees, appeared on eBay recently and was purchased by Jason Feldman. Jason was kind enough to consign his new acquisition for inclusion into the web-book. I've listed the variety as F-117 with the obverse die showing a large blob die defect above the shield. Does anyone have an example without the rotated reverse?

1854-O F-103 With Rotated Reverse Discovered by Jason Feldman

During the 2006 ANA show, Jason Feldman discovered an 1854-O F-103 with a rotated reverse. The F-103 variety features an oblique O mintmark and a badly cracked obverse die between the 18 digits. The reverse is rotated right by about 50 degrees on Jason's coin. He was kind enough to consign the new acquisition for inclusion into the web-book.

1869 Short Flag F-104a Business Strike Located

During early 2006, a Mint State 1869 Short Flag dime appeared on eBay. Finding an Mint State example of any of the previously known Short Flag obverse dies would be an important occasions for the serious seated dime specialist. As it turned out, the eBay dime was a business strike example of the F-104 proof only variety and was immediately purchased. Upon receiving the dime for inspection, it was confirmed that business strike examples of F-104 Short Flag can be located. I have listed the business strike as F-104a with an estimated rarity of R6 (at least for now).

Early Die State 1874 WA F-106 With Only Right Missing Arrow Identified By Tim Irwin

Tim Irwin has identified and purchased an 1874 WA dime that was struck with the same obverse die used to coin the extremely rare "No Arrows" 1874 variety. Interestingly, Tim's dime has a full left arrow and a missing right arrow. Tim was kind enough to send this 1874 dime along for study. My initial observations and conclusion? The arrows and date digits were obliquely punched into the working die from left (deepest) to right (shallowest). It does appear that the arrows and date digits were all part of a ganged punch. Check the detailed commentary at the 1874 WA F-114 listing.

Unlisted 1842-O Die Pair Identified By Dick Osburn

In early 2006, Dick Osburn made me aware of an 1842-O dime that was on consignment. He noted that the date position did not match any of the known obverse dies and my curiousity was peaked. During May, I acquired the coin from Dick and it sat in the bank for over a year. Recently, I gave the coin a thorough inspection, finding that both the obverse and reverse dies to be unattributed. The date is measured as DR 0C, the furthest left of the known obverse dies. The reverse mintmark is positioned similar to Reverse E, but faint die cracks on the discovery coin indicate another reverse die. I've designated this new 1842-O variety as F-108.

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