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

5th 1884-S Die Pairing Identified at 2012 Heritage FUN Auction

January 14, 2012

Checking the Heritage 2012 FUN online catalog, I noticed an 1884-S dime graded PCGS MS64 as a possible PCGS registry set upgrade. Futher inspection revealed the die pairing to be different than the four previously listed in the web-book. Therefore purchasing this dime was a priority at the Thursday afternoon auction and is listed as F-105.

On this high grade example, Obverse 1 is found in an early die state and paired with Reverse C. The 8 and 4 digits are very close and do appear to touch as is the case for F-101. A later Obverse 1 die state is known after being polished; see F-102. On Reverse C, die cracks are seen from the right ribbon end through the mintmark to the rim and through the lower right wreath. The Small S mintmark is more blob like in appearance than the well defined mintmark on the F-104 reverse plate coin. However mintmark size and position do appear identical.

Jim Smith Presents 1889 with MPD 18 in Shield at FUN 2012

January 7, 2012

At the 2012 FUN show, John Frost and I were manning the joint BCCS and LSCC club booth. Jim Smith from Newport News, Virginia walks up to the booth and drops a group of new Liberty Seated dime varieties he's discovered during the past few years. Jim is an avid Seated dime variety collector and has an excellent eye for the undocumented. The most exciting new variety in Jim's group is this 1889 dime with obvious misplaced 1 and 8 digit tops in the shield. How this MPD variety could have gone undetected for so long is a mystery. The tops of misplaced 18 digits are clearly visible in the lower shield. The flag of 1 digit is located between the bottom of shield line #2 and intersecting shield line #3. The top loop of 8 digit bisects shield lines #7 and #8.

I've designated Jim Smith's new variety discovery as 1889 F-126. Great job Jim!

1875-S BW With Rotated Reverse Discovered by Sean Shaughnessy

July 27, 2011

During June 2011, Sean Shaughnessy identified a new 1875-S BW rotated reverse variety with the reverse die rotated 80 degrees left. The obverse and reverse die pair does not match that of F-109 and is therefore not a different rotated reverse position for that variety. Identifying the individual obverse and reverse dies is difficult due to the low grade of the discovery coin, therefore the variety is listed as a new obverse and reverse die pair for the time being until a high grade specimen surfaces and a more definite assessment can be made.

At first, one might think that the mintmark is a Small Filled S however, careful checking of images between 1875-S BW Reverse Q and Reverse L led to the conclusion that Reverse Q has a typical Small S mintmark with substantial wear flattening its appearance. Clearly more research is need to properly diagnose this new variety and hopefully the F-118 listing will help locate other specimens for additional research.

1876-CC F-131 Late Die State Located

June 8, 2011

During the 2010 January FUN show, I ran across another 1876-CC dime with really soft device elements due to badly rusted dies. However, the date and mintmark positions did not match either the F-107 Double Die Obverse or the F-108 Double Die Reverse listings. Therefore, I had located another 1876-CC in very late state and purchased it for later study. Fast forward to June 2011 and I have been able to match the characteristics to the F-131 Pimpled Obverse Die variety.

1876-CC continues to be a date of interest to variety specialist since new discoveries are possible.

Dale Miller Locates 1891-O F-115 Variety with LDS Reverse

June 6, 2011

During May 2011, I received an email from Dale Miller indicating that he had located a later F-115 Reverse N die state with two potential cuds. We made plans for shipment of the discovery coin during early June for photography and inclusion in the web-book. The later die state Reverse N has substantially degraded with heavy diagonal die crack down through the right ribbon end and through the mintmark to the rim under the left ribbon end. Two potential die cuds are forming at the opposite sides of lower reverse. The first is evident between 4:00-5:00 and the second between 7:00-8:30.

The extra ball on the 9 digit is difficult to see on this lower grade specimen though the date position well matches the F-115 variety.

Potential New 1842 Proof Die Pair Offered by Larry Briggs

January 9, 2011

At the January 2011 FUN show, Larry Briggs invited LSCC members to view an 1842 Seated dime that he suspected might be a proof but did not match the date placement characteristics of F-108. For reference, the F-108 date placement measurement is DR 0B1. I visited with Larry at his FUN table and upon inspection of the 1842 dime noted that the die pair was not that of F-108 but of F-106. Attributing 1842 die varieties by date position alone is difficult due to limited variation in date punch placement. However, F-106 can be easily diagnosed by nearly horizontal die lines behind Liberty's right elbow on the obverse and a subtle horizontal die scratch between the left wreath and bow on the reverse.

On the Larry Briggs F-106 specimen, the obverse and reverse fields are a result of polished dies. Most interesting is the lack of continuation of the horizontal die lines through Liberty's elbow into the right field. Rather, those lines are removed as a result of a polished depression in the die's surface in that area. The depression is well visible starting at the right shoulder, through the pole and into the right field. This die characteristic has not been seen on F-106 business strike examples to date. The reverse die was confirmed to be Reverse E as paired with Obverse 5 due to the still visible horizontal die scratch between the left wreath and bow. I have designated the polished die state as F-106a.

I asked Larry to borrow the 1842 dime for further study and for inclusion in the web-book. Of importance is the question of whether this 1842 specimen is an intentional proof strike or the result of a random die polishing event. Please see the February 2011 E-Gobrecht issue for more information and an opportunity to render your opinion.

Harry Smith Identifies 1876-CC Dime with Repunched Right C Mintmark

August 23, 2010

The repunched right C mintmark on Variety 133 is quite significant and was first identified by Harry Smith and published in the July 2010 Gobrecht Journal issue. Variety 133 exhibits many obverse and reverse diagnostics that should facilitate easy attribution.

Obverse 26 is characterized by a medium level date with small knob 6, a visible die line through the lower right shield and a fully broken (O)F.

The repunched right C mintmark on Reverse Y is most obvious at the top of the mintmark with extra metal that appears to be a horn. Additional repunching is seen inside the mintmark. The denomination is doubled, stronger on ON(E D)IME as an additional diagnostic. There are parallel die lines between the left wreath and the left ribbon end as illustrated.

Fifth 1869 Short Flag 1 Die Pair is Identified by Dr. Tim Cook

July 8, 2010

The fifth Short Flag 1 die pairing was brought to my attention by Dr. Tim Cook during June 2010. I was quite surprised to see a fifth Short Flag 1 obverse die surface after extensive checking of all 1869 Short Flag 1 dimes that crossed my path. The new die pair is labeled as F-107. The Obverse 7 date punch is bold, especially at the top flag of the 1 digit. The date has a slight upward slope with the 1 digit evenly spaced between the base and denticles. The first S in STATES is partial as compared to fully broken S on other Short Flag 1 obverse dies.

Reverse G is also a new discovery with an obvious die line through (D)IME which extends into the left wreath.

1877/6 Overdate Discovered by Rick DeSanctis on 1877-CC Type II F-107 and F-108 Varieties

March 16, 2010

During March 2010, the author received an email from Rick DeSanctis, a Ft Myers, Florida dealer, who stated that the F-107 and F-108 Obverse 6 date punch was actually an overdate on an original 1876 die. Rick indicated that the remains of a 6 digit could be seen on the top surface of the crossbar of the second 7 digit consistent with the 1877, 7 Over 6 Liberty Seated Half Dollar listed in Cherrypickers' Guide as FS-50-1877-301. The dime was sent to the author for verification and photography. The remains on the top surface of the 7 digit crossbar were imaged with the dime placed on a mylar wedge to properly adjust lighting angle and capture the anomaly on the top surface of the 7 digit. The anomaly does have similarity with the top loop and Small Knob of a 6 digit. This anomaly will wear quickly, therefore mint state examples of F-107 and F-108 should be examined for the possibility of a full top loop of the 6 digit protruding from the surface. F-107 mint state examples with an early die state Obverse 6 should be the best candidates for inspection of the 7 over 6 overdate variety.

At this time, Obverse 6 is updated to be an 1877/6 overdate variety. More mint state examples of F-107 and F-108 are requested from collectors for additional imaging.

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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