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1865-S
Variety 101a
Obverse 1.2: Large Depression Below Shield, Medium Date, Downward Slope
Reverse Aa: Depression on Maple Leaf, Small Weak S, [mm Lt,C]
Obverse 1.2 Reverse Aa
Obverse Diagnostic Point(s) Reverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Comments: In his Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Dimes, Greer indicates that two examples of Variety 101a were seen with a large depression at the lower left of the shield. To date, no explanation has been offered for this anomaly but a filled die with foreign substance could be assumed.
Regardless of the large depression, the plate coin illustrates the typical strike and head weakness to be expected for Variety 101 examples.
At the May 2014 Denver Coin Expo, a second example (as known to me) surfaced in original EF45 grade and is illustrated above. This dime exhibits the same obverse depression below the shield as on the Greer variety plate coin. However, a closer examination of the reverse also revealed a second depression on maple leaf in the lower left wreath directly below (D)IME. This smaller depression can be seen on the Greer plate coin also.
This sub variety is definitely is well served by an R7 rarity rating as very rare.
Plate Coin: G. Fortin Collection, PCGS VF20 - Greer Variety Plate Coin (top above), Denver Coin Expo Specimen, EF45 (above)