Comments: Unfortunately, I've not had the opportunity to examine an 1840 proof dime in person. Rather, commentary is listed from auction appearances and corresponding documentation.

From the Bowers and Merena Eliasberg Auction catalog, the following comments were retrieved, "Star 2 dramatically repunched. Die lines from denticles over space between OF and A".

From the Heritage 2007 ANA Signature Auction; 1840 10C No Drapery Dime PR65 Cameo NGC. Ex: P. Kaufman. The original mintage of the proof 1840 No Drapery dimes is unknown, although certainly quite small. Only five or six pieces are known today, including the Kaufman Gem Cameo proof, the finest example known to us. Many important cabinets offered in recent years have lacked this date in proof, including the Garrett, Norweb, and Lovejoy collections. Four of the known examples are listed in our roster of survivors:

1. PR65 Cameo NGC. The present coin. Kaufman Collection. This piece does not appear to match any of the following.

2. PR65 NGC. Allenburger Collection (B. Max Mehl, 3/1948), lot 985; John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 586; Bowers and Merena (8/1999), lot 104; Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1235.

3. PR64 NGC. Heritage (10/2001), lot 6028. This piece is identified in the catalog as the Eliasberg specimen, although the plates do not match.

4. PR63. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (Bowers, 5/1996), lot 1117.

Like the 1840 proof half dime, the interior space of the 4 crowds the thin, flat top of this digit. Star 2 is minutely repunched, although there is no apparent recutting on any other star. A faint horizontal die line pierces the top of Liberty's head. The reverse has a few short, diagonal spines from the border over OF, and both sides have faint die polish lines. The Eliasberg specimen shows these identical characteristics, and the others probably do as well. David Akers points out that the reverse spines over OF are diagnostic for proofs of this issue.

1840 No Drapery Varieties 101, 102, 102a, 103, 104, 104a, 105, 106, 107, 108

Back to 1840 No Drapery Varieties Table

Back to Date and Mintmark Table