Photo Denom Date Grade TPG Variety GFRC Rating Price Description Buy
Seated 10C 1838 Seated 10C 1838
No Drapery, Small Stars 		MS64 NGC
563012002 		F-101b
 Choice SOLD
$3850 		Small Stars, Proof-Like Surfaces, Brilliant Reflectance, Two Known, Former Gerry Fortin Reference Collection. GFRC has just completed the buyback of an truly important 1838 No Drapery Liberty Seated dime. Since the sale of this lot during March 2023, one other proof like F-101b example has surfaces and was handled by GFRC. Therefore, two are presently known to me. Let's return to the original description which follows... The time has come to sell one of the truly important pieces in the Fortin Seated Dime reference collection. I believe this is a special strike 1838 Small Stars dime that is truly distinctive and warrants inclusion into the web-book with a listing of F-101(b). Why do I consider this piece to be a special strike? This piece was struck by heavily striated dies with a proof-like appearance under bright light. The obverse and reverse die cracks are consistent with the F-101(a) die state, however, the dies have been heavily polished. On the obverse, bold die lines run from north to south while the die metal adjacent to the denticles is crumbling. This die steel pitting is moving into the fields. The reverse die condition is more bizarre with heavy north-south die lines inside the wreath while there are other die lines running from 10:00 to 4:00 behind the legend. The die also has a bulge between O(NE) down to DI(M)E that remains frosted. A remarkable example that has been "put away" since being purchased in late 2006. Housed in new NGC holder with edge view insert. December 1969