Liberty Seated Dimes Varieties 1837-1891 - 1840 New Orleans Variety Chapter Page

1840-O

Small O

Medium O

Large O


Mintage: 1,175,500

Top 100	Var#	Obv	Rev	DR	Obverse / Reverse Quick Diagnostics	Ahwash	Greer
	101	1	A	-3C	Bold Medium Date, S1 Near / Large O, Bold Legend
	101a	1.2	A.2	-3R	Lapped Die, Weak Date / Large O, RDC U(NIT)ED (STA)TES AME(R)ICA	A-1
	102	2	B	-3B-2	Medium Level Date, S9, S10 Repunched / Large O, [mm C,H,TL]
	102a	2	B.2	-3B-2	Medium Level Date, S9, S10 Repunched / Large O, Rim Cud at 11:30
	103	2	C	-3B-2	Med. Date, S9, S10 Repunched/Sm O of 1839, RDC (U)N(I)TED (ST)AT(E)S
	103a	2	C.2	-3B-2	Med. Date, S9, S10 Repunched/Rev Cuds at 9:00, 10:00, Sm O of 1839
	104	2	D	-3B-2	Medium Level Date, S9, S10 Repunched / Small O, [mm C,C]
	104a	2.2	D.2	-3B-2	LDS, S9, S10 Repunched / LDS, Small O, Die Crack UNI(T)ED
	105	2.3	A.2	-3B-2	Very Late Die State / Large O, Rim Die Cracks Entire Legend
*	106	3	E	-3L	Med. Date, S11 Repunched / Medium O, Full Legend, Early Die State	A-2
*	106a	3	E.2	-3L	Med. Date, S11 Repunched / Medium O, RDC STAT(E)S, Weak Legend	A-2
	107	3.2	D.2	-3L	Lapped Die, Weak Date & Base of Rock / Small O, RDC UNI(T)ED
	108	4	F.2	-3B-2	Med. Date, S9, S10, S11 Repunched / Small O, [mm C,H], RDC AME(ERIC)A	A-3	G101
	109	5	G	-3B-2	Med. Date, S9 Repunched, S1 Close to Rock / Small O, [mm Rt,H,TR]		G102
	109a	5.2	G.2	-3B-2	LDS, Med. Date, S9 Repunched / Small O, RDC UN(I)TED AME(R)ICA
	110	6	H	-3C	Med. Date, S8 Repunched / Small O, [mm C,C], Weak (O)NE		G103
	110a	6.2	H.2	-3C	LDS, Filled Die Top of Shield / LDS, Small O, DCr (U)NITED To Wreath
	111	7	F	-2L	Med. Date, Upward Slope, S6 Repunched / Small O, [mm C,H]


Variety Vs. Denticle Ruler Cross Reference Table

Reverse Die and Mintmark Position Comparison Guide

Scarcity: 1840-O dimes are available in grades Good through Very Fine.  In Extra Fine or better grade, this date 
becomes challenging in locating well struck examples.  The combination of heavy usage of worn dies and extensive 
circulation yielded few surviving examples that are choice.  In Mint State condition, this date is R7 and a prized 
acquisition for the Seated dime collector. Pricing for this date in AU and Mint State grades is finally catching up 
with the reality of rarity and very limited supply.  To that end, I have added the PCGS Pricing Guide values effective 
2008 as this guide is much more current with auction results and market pricing.
 
Updated Greer Rarity Ratings
Overall Rarity: G-VG R1, F-VF R2+, EF-AU R4, MS R6+
Small O Rarity: G-VG R2, F-VF R3+, EF-AU R4+, MS R7
Small O (1839) Rarity: G-VG R5+, F-VF R5+, EF-AU R6+, MS R7+
Medium O Rarity: G-VG R3, F-VF R4+, EF-AU R5, MS R7+
Large O Rarity: G-VG R3, F-VF R4-, EF-AU R4+, MS R7+

                          Fortin Variety Rarity Estimates In VF - Mint State

Variety	Rarity	Suggested Premiums	Variety	Rarity	Suggested Premiums
101	R6	100-200%	106	R5+	30-50%
101a	R4	-	106a	R5	30-50%
102	R5	30-50%	107	R5	30-50%
102a	R6	100-200%	108	R3	-
103	R6	100-200%	109	R3	-
103a	R7	200-300%	109a	R4	-
104	R4	-	110	R3	-
104a	R4	-	110a	R4	-
105	R5	30-50%	111	R5	30-50%


Comments: In terms of mintmark size availability, eight different reverse dies have been identified.  There are four 
1840 Small O dies, one Small O die with a mintmark punch from 1839, two Large O dies and one Medium O die.  The 
number of 1840 Small O dies correlates with Greer's observations that the Small O is the most common mintmark size. 
The one reverse with a Small O style from 1839 (Variety 103) is rare and considered R6 as the author has only a few 
examples.  The Large O is more difficult than the Small O, with the Medium O being the most troublesome to 
locate. Therefore mintmark size scarcity correlates with the amount of dies employed for each mintmark size.  
 
  
                            Value As A Date (Coin World Trends/CoinValues)

Grade	1963	1973	1983	1993	2003	2012
G	3	4	11	9	20	25
F	7	9	30	22	30	100
EF	-	30	160	80	150	500
MS60	25	225	1250	950	1000	6000
MS63	-	-	-	-	2500	17500

1840-O Date Gallery

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