Overrated and Underrated Liberty Seated Dimes

Originally published on June 16 2018

Being a slow morning and not having a prepared topic, I went back to the email Inbox to retrieve a few potential ideas for today's numismatic discussion. Some suggested topics required preparation but a underrated and overrated Liberty Seated dimes topic could be discussed without much study. One avid Blog reader requested that each Liberty Seated denomination be reviewed in terms of overpriced dates and those that remain as an attractive value. So let's take a quick walk through the Liberty Seated Dime date and mintmark set for some spontaneous thoughts. Please be aware that I've not done numerical research of populations reports for this discussion. Rather, this is an instantaneous review based on gut feel and years of collecting/research experience.

The Underrated Dates

Some Liberty Seated dime dates are underrated as a date in all grades while others may be only underrated at a certain grade level. I'll try to sort this out during the following quick discussion.

• 1840 Drapery - This date is so challenging to locate in problem free EF or better. My Open Registry set specimen is only an PCGS AU55 CAC graded example purchased during 1990 at an Auburn, Maine local coin club meeting. I've own an NGC MS62 example that I hated and sold.


• 1843-O - Choice original AU or better examples are extremely rare and should continues to increase in price.


• 1845-O - Same situation as the 1843-O but not as acute. This date has pricing power in AU or better.


• 1847 - A substantial rarity in MS63 or better and too cheap at current auction and price guide levels.


• 1851-O - Another New Orleans mint strike that is presently cheap in Choice AU or better. I've seen several NGC graded mint state pieces and was not thrilled with any of them due to odd looking blue and rose textile toning. I'm still not happy with my own NGC MS63 example owned since the 1998 timeframe. However, I've never found an example that was available that I liked enough to purchase.


• 1852-O - Remains underpriced in most grades when found choice and an extreme rarity in MS65 or better. The Gerry Fortin NGC MS66 CAC specimen may be the finest.


• 1855 - The unappreciated little sister to the plentiful and common 1853 and 1854 With Arrows dates. I will give any nice 1855 With Arrows dime a close look in AU or better.


• 1856 Large Date - Sure, these can be found in nearly all circulated grades including AU but choice mint state examples are worth substantial premiums and rarely reaching the market.


• 1856-S - Of the four With Stars San Francisco dates, the 1856-S date is the most challenging to locate in any grade without problems.


• 1861-S - An ongoing underrated San Francisco date is all grades. The new Longare-Paquet type 1 obverse hub design does not wear well. I've seen so few of this date and prices need to increase to bring out more.


• 1868 - A bear of a date in AU or better. This date has a small mintage of 464,000 but with 12 different die pairings.


• 1868-S - Until recent pricing adjustments, this date was way too inexpensive in AU or better. Nearly all examples seen are so-so and not choice. This date is a substantial challenge in mint state.


• 1870-S - Sometimes I believe this date is more available in mint state than circulated grades. If locating a choice circulated example in any grade, just buy it.


• 1872-S - Scarce in all grades choice. GFRC recently sold an PCGS AU58 CAC example for $1850 and that was still too cheap for the rarity.


• 1871-CC, 1873-CC and 1874-CC - These three dates remain underrated in choice circulated preservation states. The TPGs have ruined pricing for these dates since slabbing way too many problem and worked on coins. I've seen many of these inferior coins hit the auction block resulting in lower and lower prices.


• 1877-S - The most uncommon "common" date in mint state. If able to locate a choice mint state example at anywhere near the guides, then just buy it.


• 1885-S - A rare date to begin with but add in the fact that many examples have problems. Probably half of the examples seen in TPG holders have one problem or another. If able to locate a choice original specimen with gray patina and no marks, then buy it.

The Overrated Dates

Some dates are just readily available and overpriced for their rarity. Leading the pack is the one Liberty Seated dime date (1844) that I hate with a passion. I've lost money every time owning and selling an example during my collecting days.

• 1837 and 1838-O - No stars design that command a substantial premium due to type coin status.


• 1844 - The poor Orphan Annie dime has been hoarded, hyped and over marketed. Still overpriced in grades through VF. EF is marginal and AU is approaching fairly priced.


• 1862-S, 1866-S - These two dates have been hoarded in circulated grades and, in the past ten years, some of the hoard holdings have returned to market.


• 1872-CC - More available than its three big Carson City counterparts and easiest to find choice.


• 1879, 1880 - No fun collecting these as can be easily found in any mint state grade.