1861

 

     

Type I Obverse

     

Type II Obverse


Mintage: 1,884,000 (both obverse types)                                               Proofs: 1,000 Type II Obverse

Top
100

Var#

Obv

Rev

DR

 

Obverse / Reverse Quick Diagnostics

Ahwash

Greer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type I Obverse

 

 

*

101

1

A

1C

 

 Rusted Die, Medium Date, Downward Slope / DScr In Lower Left Wreath

A-1

 

 

102

2

B

1L

 

 Medium Level Date, Clashed Die / Irregular O(N)E

A-2

 

 

103

3

C

1R

 

 Weak Date, Medium Level Date / Weak Denomination

 

 

 

104

4

D

1R

 

 Medium Level Date / Die Line into O(N)E

 

 

 

105

4.2

E

1R

 

 Clashed Die, Medium Level Date / Bold Denomination, DCrk Right Wreath

 

 

 

106

5
F
1B2
   High Level Date / Weak O(N)E, D(I)ME    

 

107

5.2

G

1B2

 

 Clashed Die, High Level Date / DL Wreath To Rim @ 4:30, Die Clash

 

 

 

108

6

C

1R

 

 Bold Date, Medium Level Date, 18 Nearly Touch / Weak Denomination

 

 

 
109

7

H

1L

 

 Clashed Die, Medium Level Date / Heavily Clashed Die

   
 
110

8

I

2L

 

 Low Level Date Far Right / Polished Die, Bold Denomination

   

 

 

Type II Obverse

 

101

1

A

1R

 

 Proof, Medium Date, Slight Upward Slope / Die Defect On DI(M)E

 

 

 

102

1.2

B

1R

 

 Medium Date, Slight Upward Slope / Doubling Above Upper Oak Leaves

 

 

 

103

2

C

1R

 

 Low Date, Upward Slope / Perfect Die

A-3

 

 

104

3

D

1L

 

 Medium Level Date, Die Scratch Shield Lines 2-5 / Perfect Die

A-4

 

*

105

4

E

1R

 

 Medium Date, Up Slope, DD In Lower Shield / Rusted Reverse Die

 

G101

 

106

4

F

1R

 

 Medium Date, Up Slope, DD In Lower Shield / Die Lines Through DIM(E)

 

 

 

107

5

G

1B2

 

 Medium Date, Upward Slope / Perfect Die

 

 

 

108

6

H

0R

 

 Date Left, Medium Date, Slight Downward Slope / Perfect Die

 

 

 

109

7

I

1L

 

 High Date, Slight Downward Slope / Doubling Right Wreath

 

 

 

110

8

J

1B2

 

 Medium Level Date / Perfect Die

 

 

 

110a

8.2

J.2

1B2

 

 Die Erosion, Medium Level Date / Die Crack Left Wreath

   

 

111

9

K

1C

 

 Medium Date, Upward Slope / Perfect Die

 

 

 

112

10

L

1C

 

 Medium Date, Downward Slope / Perfect Die

 

 

 

113

11

M

1C

 

 Medium Level Date / Perfect Die

 

 

 

114

12

N

1C

 

 Medium Date, Slight Upward Slope / Perfect Die

   
 

115

13

A

1R

 

 High Level Date / Double Die Above Oak Leaves

   

Variety Vs. Denticle Ruler Cross Reference Table

Scarcity: A common date in all grades except Mint State.  The Type I Obverse is more difficult to locate than the 
Type II Obverse, however it is still common below EF.
 
Updated Greer Rarity Ratings
Rarity Rating Type I: G-VG R1, F-VF R2-, EF-AU R2+, MS R4+
Rarity Rating Type II: G-VG R1, F-VF R1, EF-AU R2, MS R3
Overall Rarity: G-VG R1, F-VF R1, EF-AU R2, MS R3+

                                Fortin Variety Rarity Estimates In VF - Mint State

Variety

Rarity

Suggested Premiums

Variety

Rarity

Suggested Premiums

Type I - 101

R3

-

Type II - 104

R3

-

Type I - 102

R3

-

Type II - 105

R7

2500-3000%

Type I - 103

R4

-

Type II - 106

R3

-

Type I - 104

R2

-

Type II - 107

R3

-

Type I - 105

R3

-

Type II - 108

R3

-

Type I - 106

R3

-

Type II - 109

R2

-

Type I - 107

R3

-

Type II - 110

R3

-

Type I - 108

R3

-

Type II - 110a

R4

-

Type I - 109

R4

-

Type II - 111

R4

-

Type I - 110

R4

-

Type II - 112

R4

-

Type II - 101

R4

-

Type II - 113

R3

-

Type II - 102

R3

-

Type II - 114

R3

-

Type II - 103

R3

-

Type II - 115

R3

-

Comments: During 1861, Longacre updated the obverse hub to improve striking quality.  During that year, obverse 
dies were produced from both the Type I and Type II obverse hubs.  The old Type I hub of 1861 has 5 vertical 
lines in the upper part of the shield above the banner.  Liberty's index finger also fell on the outside of the 
left shield edge.  On the new Type II hub of 1861, there are 6 vertical lines above the banner.  Liberty's 
index finger points straight down along the left edge of the shield.  The letters on the Type I hub are thinner 
than the letters on the Type II hub.  Once a Seated dime collector becomes familiar with the appearance of the 
Type I and Type II obverse hubs from these diagnostics, it is rather simple to identify the hubs by the overall 
appearance of Liberty's upper body.  On the Type I hub, Liberty has a fully and more matronly figure while on 
the Type II hub, Liberty's upper body and arms are thinner.  
 
As of May 2017, 20 obverse dies have been identified as compared to a mintage of 1,884,000 pieces.  The average mintage 
per obverse die is about 100,000 dimes suggesting smaller production batch sizes and limited usage of working 
dies.  This finding is supported by the lack of late die state examples where die erosion and die cracking becomes 
a problem. Die clashing is frequently seen on Type 1 coinage and this anomaly was further researched in October 2012 
resulting in an update to the reverse die numbering and overall variety listing.  The Type 1 section went from 7 listed 
varieties to 10 as the reverse dies were closely studied and properly attributed consistent with die clashing observations.
  
                               Value As A Date (Coin World Trends/CoinValues

Grade

1963

1973

1983

1993

2003

2012

G

1

2.5

6

5.75

20

15

F

2

4

11

12.75

30

25

EF

-

15

40

38

40

40

MS60

10

90

300

150

200

200

MS63

-

-

-

370

350

500

 

1861 Date Gallery

Back to Date and Mintmark Table