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Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Varieties

Definitions and 2006 LSCC Survey Results

The Definitions.............

Selecting the Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime varieties was no easy task. Before choosing these Top 100 Varieties, I thought it best to first define the desired numismatic goals and outcomes for this section of the web-book. By understanding the background for picking the major Seated Dime varieties, hopefully web-book members and collectors at large would be supportive of this defined collecting challenge. Following are the numismatic outcomes that I hoped to accomplish with the Top 100 variety collecting objective.

- Expand the size of the Liberty Seated collecting community by raising awareness of an alternate collecting approach for Liberty Seated Dime varieties. This objective would require that future collectors be aware of not only date and mintmark rarities within the Liberty Seated Dime series, but also build an understanding of the die preparation process, die wear and minting conditions in the mid 1800’s. I believe that collectors will become more dedicated to a long term relationship with a particular series if time is taken to acquire indepth knowledge about that series.

- I wanted the Top 100 Seated Dime varieties to be an important cross section of die variety types universally accepted and popular with collectors of all United States coinage. Some of the important die variety types include repunched dates and mintmarks, misplaced date punches, excessive die wear and shattering of dies, die doubling during the die hubbing process and other important reasons that renders a variety as a highly collectable item. Attempting the Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime varieties should increase a collector’s working knowledge of the die preparation and minting process.

- There must be a competitive challenge, comradeship and excitement while assembling a Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime variety set. The set may be achievable in circulated or Mint State grades but at the same time, it must be a challenging long term project that brings about enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment when the completed set is assembled. I believe that the completion of a set of the Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime varieties should be a major numismatic event and should be announced within the Liberty Seated Collectort Club via the Gobrecht Journal.

Selecting the Top 100 Varieties

The selection criteria for the Top 100 varieties were first developed as a guiding process. The criteria focused on the following die variety attributes inclusion into the Top 100 set;

- Historically recognized as an important Liberty Seated Dime variety in prior reference books by Ahwash and Greer and/or Gobrecht Journal publications.

- Selecting a balance of varieties based on rarity to maintain the collector’s interest throughout the project. Some of the varieties should be immediately available through dealer price lists or eBay without much searching. Other varieties should be moderately to extremely challenging to locate. Obtaining these moderate to challenging varieties would require special attention to major auctions or building personal relationships with dealers or Liberty Seated Collector Club members.

- A cross section of the major variety types currently pursued within numismatics today, again bringing attention to the die preparation process and subsequent die usage and wear out.

Top 100 Varieties Rarity Distribution

I assessed the frequency of estimated rarities, from the web-book, and determined the number of listings at each rarity level. The following table illustrates the frequency of variety listings at each rarity level.

    Rarity 1 – 0     Rarity 3 – 35     Rarity 5 – 17     Rarity 7 – 1
    Rarity 2 – 1     Rarity 4 – 32     Rarity 6 – 12     Rarity 8 – 2

NGC Signature Set Template For Top 100 Varieties

A Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Varieties template has been created at the NGC Registry website by using the Signature set creation option. NGC's pioneering approach to the creation of custom Signature sets is enabling collectors of all means to exhibit their sets on the web. By using the Signature set creation routines, I was able to construct a template for other collectors to use as a display or inventory system. Of course the limitation is that your dimes must be slabbed by either NGC or PCGS. If you are a collector of raw coins, then you might consider using the PDF inventory tracking sheets that I've created. See them below.

You can access the NGC Signature Top 100 Variety template here at the NGC Registry site.

PDF Inventory Tracking Sheets For Top 100 Varieties

Top 100 tracking sheets for general usage can be downloaded here. These sheets can be printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you would like the Microsoft Excel worksheet versions, just send me an email at info@www.seateddimevarieties.com!

Download PDF Files     Sheet 1 - Varieties 1 - 50        Sheet 2 - Varieties 51 - 100

 

The Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Varieties

Click on the underlined dates to see images and full page descriptions of each Top 100 variety

Variety Number

Date

Variety Type

Fortin Reference

Notes, Explanation and Descriptions

1

1837

Die Cracks

101c

Large Date, Clashed Obverse and Reverse, obverse pie shaped die cracks with heavily clashed obverse and reverse dies

2

1837

Die Crack

103a

Small Date, Reverse Horizontal Die Crack, reverse die crack from rim through UNIT(E)D and wreath to (ON)E

3

1838-O

RPM

101

Repunched Huge O, bottom of the Huge O mintmark shows repunching

4

1838

Small Stars

101a

Small Stars on obverse intended for half-dimes, late die state obverse with heavy die crack on left side , doubled die reverse

5

1838

Die Crack

103b

Vertically Cracked Reverse, die crack starts at STATE(E) then down through O(N)E and D(I)ME into left bow knot

6

1838

Die Crack

106

Cracked Obverse #1, die crack starts between Stars 6 and 7, then down through Liberty passing on right side of (1)838

7

1838

Partial Drapery
108a

Partial Drapery Obverse, obverse die clash below Liberty's right arm, repunched 18 digits, reverse die also strongly clashed

8

1838

Die Crack
110a

Cracked Obverse #2, die crack starting at Star 7 proceeding diagonally through Liberty, then to rim below foot

9

1838

Die Crack
111a

Cracked Obverse #3, die crack starting at Star 6 proceeding diagonally through Liberty, then to rim below foot

10

1839

Shattered Obv Die
105b

Pie Shaped Shattered Obverse, three spectacular die cracks meeting in the center of the obverse die
11
Die Pairing
103
Small O Obverse/ Large O Reverse, late die state of Large O reverse paired with late die state of Small O obverse die
12
RPM
104a
Repunched Large O mintmark, long horizontal die crack starting at UN(I)TED through left wreath and across DIME
13
Shattered Rev Die
106a
Cobweb Shattered Reverse, reverse die with circular die cracks throughout legend and ribbon bow
14
Mintmark Size
108
Polished Obverse/Huge O Reverse, severely polished obverse die paired with left over Huge O mintmark reverse die from 1838
15
Die Scratches
103
Chin Whiskers Variety, heavy die scratches from Liberty's chin to left shoulder
16
Mintmark Size
106
Medium O Mintmark and a die crack dropping downward through STAT(E)S
17
RPD
103
Repunched 184 Digits, repunching below the base of the 184 digits in the date and a reverse die crack through (S)TATES
18
RPD
105
Repunched 841 Digits, repunching below the base of the 841 digits, obverse is paired with reverse die that is badly rusted
19
Transitional
101
Transitional Large O Closed Bud Reverse from 1840 is paired with an 1841 obverse die
20
Transitional
102
Transitional Small O Closed Bud Reverse from 1840 is paired with the same 1841 obverse die as #19
21
Rim Cud
103a
Large Obverse Rim Cud at 10:00
22
Shattered Die
102a
Shattered Reverse Die, Medium O mintmark, major diagnostic is a reverse die crack from rim through STA(TES O)F
23
Shattered Die
103
Shattered Reverse Die of 1841, major diagnostics are a very weak reverse legend and die crack through STAT(ES)
24
Mintmark Size
104a
Small O Mintmark, obverse has a rim cud from Stars 3 through 6
25
RPD
102
Repunched 1843 Digits, the entire date is strongly repunched on the obverse
26
RPD
103
Repunched 45 Digits, with the 5 digit being tripled punched above and below the flag of the digit
27
RPD
107
Repunched 1845 Digits, date punch has a noticeable downward slope
28
Mintmark Size
102
 Huge O Mintmark, mintmark tilts right and has a very thick oval appearance
29
Date Position
101
 Date Punch Overlaps Base, the date punch is high and overlaps into the base
30
RPD
104
 Repunched 8 and 9 Digits, previously designated as an 1849/8 overdate
31
RPD
104
 Repunched 184 Digits, date repunching is most evident on 18 digits, always with a Small O reverse die
32
RPD
105
Repunched 851 Digits, early die state repunched date obverse paired with a rusted reverse die
33
RPD
105
Repunched 52 Digits, date repunching with the 2 digit being strongly repunched at the base
34
Clashed Die
101a
Heavily Clashed No Arrows Obverse, sharp die clashing in the field area to the right of Liberty's right arm
35
RPD
107
Repunched 853 Digits, Unhubbed Obverse Die, date repunching is found at the bottom of the 853 date digits
36
Shattered Die
104a
Shattered Obverse Die, major die cracks visible in the base above the 8 digit and to the left of the base near Star 1
37
Shattered Die
104a
Shattered Obverse Die #1, circular die cracks connect all stars to Liberty's head and the date
38
Shattered Die
102
Shattered Obverse Die, a dramatic and massive circular die crack through the date and arrows
39
Die Cracks
103
Cracked Obverse Die/Oblique Mintmark, cracked obverse die is paired with oblique Large O mintmark reverse die
40
DDO
103
Doubled Die Obverse #2, doubling is most obvious on the right side of the outer shield edge
41
DDO
108
Doubled Die Obverse East, obverse doubling is most evident within and on the outer shield lines
42
DDO
110
Doubled Die Obverse North, obverse doubling is most evident above the top of shield
43
RPD
104
 Repunched 56 Digits Up, date repunching is very visible at the base of the 56 digits
44
RPD
105
 Repunched 56 Digits Down, date repunching is very visible between the base and tops of 56 digits
45
DDO
101
 Doubled Date and Stars, the cause is suggested to be strike doubling by Fortin
46
MPD
103
 Misplaced 9 Digit In Gown, extra digit in the gown immediately right of LIBERT(Y) at the shield scroll end
47
DDO
106
 Doubled Lips, doubled die obverse with doubling most evident on UNITED STATES and on Liberty's lips
48
Type I Obv
101
 Rusted Type I Obverse Die
49
Type II Obv
105
 Heavily Rusted Reverse/Type II Obverse Die
50
Die Scratch
103
 Gouged Reverse Die, large die gouge is found through O(N)E, the letters UN(ITED STATES) are doubled on the obverse
51
RPD
103
 Repunched 18 Digits, repunching is found at the base of the 18 digits
52
MPD (Proof)
105
 Misplaced 1 Digits In Base, two 1 digits misplaced directly above the 18 digits in the date, obverse die is rusted, proof dies only
53
Short Flag 1
101
 Short Flag 1 Date, one of four obverse dies known with a short flag 1 date punch, this die being the most difficult to locate
54
RPD
104
 Repunched 870 Digits, the repunching is most obvious within the lower loop of the 0 date digit
55
RPD (Proof)
101
 Repunched 18 Digits, proof dies only, repunching is seen above the 18 date digits
56
DDR
105
 Flipped Doubled Die Reverse, reverse die hubbed twice with second hubbing rotated about 175 degrees from initial hubbing
57
RPD
106
 Repunched Date, repunching being most obvious within the 18 and 2 digits
58
MPD (Proof)
109
 Proof Misplaced Digit, bottom section of 2 digit is misplaced in the base above the 7 digit in the date, the obverse die was also used for business strikes
59
RPD
103
 Repunched Date, on Closed 3 obverse, strong repunching of the date digits can be seen at bottom left of each digit
60
DDO
103
 Doubled Shield, dramatic obverse die doubling within upper shield and to the right of upper shield
61
RPD
103
 Repunched 74 Digits, repunching is most obvious on the base of the 74 date digits
62
No Arrows
106
 Polished Arrows, arrows are missing or very faint due to attempted removal by polishing, date is also repunched
63
MPD
107
 Misplaced 1 In Denticles, the top of a 1 digit is visible in the denticles directly below 8 digit in the date
64
Shattered Die
101a
 Shattered Reverse Die, a large retained cud appears below the left and right ribbon ends
65
Mintmark Size
104
 Unfilled Micro S Mintmark, micro S below ribbon is not filled and well defined
66
Die Cracks
109
 Circular Cracked Obverse, die cracks connect UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with date and Liberty's head, CC mintmark In Wreath
67
Die Cracks
102a
 Circular Cracked Obverse, die cracks connect UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with date and Liberty's head, same obverse die as #66, CC mintmark Below Wreath
68
DDR
104
 Doubled Die Reverse, Type I Reverse, doubling is most obvious on ON(E) and DIM(E), typically found with heavy die clashing
69
RPD
101
 Boldly Repunched Date, Type I reverse, repunching is very obvious on 1 and 6 digits in the date
70
DDO
105
 Doubled Die Obverse/Greer Reverse C, on Reverse C the mintmark slopes down
71
DDO
106
 Doubled Die Obverse/Greer Reverse A, on Reverse A the mintmark is level
72
DDO
107
 Doubled Die Obverse/Greer Reverse B, on Reverse B the mintmark slopes upward
73
RPD
110
Repunched 18 Digits, repunching is clearly visible on the tops of the 18 digits
74
MPD
111
Misplaced 76 Digits, two sets of extra 76 digits in the gown area between right shield and pendant
75
Type II Rev
101
Type II Reverse, a single Type II reverse die is known for 1876 Carson City dimes
76
MPD
105
 Misplaced 1 Digit in Base, a misplaced 1 digit is found above the 8 digit in the date
77
RPD
101
 Repunched 18 Digits, repunching is best seen above the feet of the 1 digit
78
RPD
107
 Die Scratch in Shield, Repunched Date, repunching is most visible above the feet of the 1 digit in date, Type II reverse
79
Polished Die
104
 Severely Polished Reverse, major loss of details in left wreath due to die polishing, reverse die also cracked throughout wreath
80
RPD
102
 Repunched 18 Digits, both 18 digits are repunched at top of digits
81
RPD
105
 Repunched 86 Digits, bold repunching is visible under the 6 digit
82
S/S
104
 Medium S Over S, clearly visible medium S mintmark is seen within upper loop of final medium S
83
Shattered Die
107
 Shattered Reverse Die, spectacular die cracks form a radial inner ring that covers about 60% of the wreath.
84
Polished Dies
102a
 Excessively Polished Reverse Proof Die, reverse die has missing left ribbon end, used for business strikes with two obverse dies
85
MPD
106
 Triple Misplaced Digits in Gown, this variety presents one of the few triple digit misplaced dates in the Liberty Seated dime series
86
MPD - S/S
107
 Misplaced 8 Digit in Base / Medium S over S, top loop of misplaced 8 digit is found above final 8 digit in the date
87
RPD - MPD
103
 Repunched Date and Misplaced Digit, the date repunching is visible to the left of each digit or within the left side of an inner loop, the misplaced digit if found immediately right of the scroll end
88
DDR
104
 Doubled Die Reverse #1
89
DDR
106
 Doubled Die Reverse #3
90
MPD
105
 Misplaced Digit, extra top of 8 or 9 digit is seen immediately to the right of the scroll end
91
MPD
106
 Four Misplaced Digits in Gown, the left and right outer digits appear to be the top loops of an 8 and 0 digits and are positioned directly above the final date punch, the two inner misplaced digits appear to be the top loops of 9 and 0 digits
92
DDO - S/S
104
 Doubled Die Obverse / Medium S over S
93
MPD
109
 Misplaced Digit, top loop of an extra 8 or 9 punch is located in the gown directly to the right of the scroll end
94
MPD
107
 Misplaced Digit in Denticles, top loop of an 8 or 9 digit is visible in the denticles at a point below the 8 and 9 digits
95
DDO
109
 Doubled Die Obverse, doubling is readily visible to the right of the vertical shield lines and the C in AMERICA is strongly doubled
96
RPD - 0/0
106a
 Repunched 89 Digits, Clashed Dies, repunching in the lower loops of the 8 and 9 digits remains clear in the later die state
97
Shattered Die
108
 Shattered Reverse, numerous heavy die cracks throughout the wreath, mintmark and to the rims
98
0/0
109
 Medium O over Horizontal O Mintmark
99
RPD - 0/0
111
 Repunched 89 Digits / Medium O over Small S, both the 8 and 9 digits show repunching to the right of the final digits
100
S/S
105
 Medium S over Small S, the small S mintmark is easily seen within the loops of the medium S mintmark

And Survey Results....................

In early 2006, the Liberty Seated Collector's Club conducted a Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Varieties survey among its club members. The survey was the first opportunity to test rarity assumptions across the broad spectrum of Top 100 varieties defined and published in late 2004. A report of survey results was published in the November 2006 issue of the Gobrecht Journal. Included in the Top 100 survey article were tabular results of the survey outcome. You can find those results in the following table.

The Rarity Weight column is an attempt to define the relative rarity of each variety against the overall Top 100 listings. Rarity Weights range from 1 (most common) to 10 (excessively rare). These Rarity Weights will be use for additional analysis in the future.


The Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Varieties
LSCC Survey Results - 2006

Click on the underlined dates to see images and full page descriptions of each Top 100 variety

Variety Number

Date

Description

G4-6

VG8-10

F12-15

VF20-30

EF40-45

AU50-55

AU58-MS62

MS63+

Totals

Rarity Weight
1

1837
Large Date, Clashed Obverse and Reverse
1
1
3
5
6
2

1837
Small Date, Reverse Horizontal Die Crack
1
2
4
1
8
2
3

1838-O
Repunched Huge O Mintmark
1
2
7
2
3
1
16
3
4

1838
Small Stars
2
2
5
4
7
4
1
2
27
1
5

1838
Vertically Cracked Reverse Die
1
1
2
1
1
6
4
6

1838
Cracked Obverse Die #1
3
1
3
3
2
4
16
2
7

1838
Partial Drapery Obverse
2
2
3
7
6
3
1
1
25
2
8

1838
Cracked Obverse Die #2
3
1
1
1
6
6
9

1838
Cracked Obverse Die #3
2
2
1
2
2
2
11
4
10

1839
Pie Shaped Shattered Obverse
1
1
10
11
Small O Obverse/ Large O
1
1
1
3
7
12
Repunched Large O mintmark
2
5
2
6
1
16
3
13
Cobweb Shattered Reverse Die
4
3
3
8
4
1
2
25
2
14
Polished Obverse/Huge O Reverse
2
1
1
2
4
1
1
12
4
15
Chin Whiskers Variety
2
2
4
1
3
12
3
16
Medium O Mintmark With Die Crack
2
1
1
1
5
5
17
Repunched 184 Digits
2
1
1
2
1
7
3
18
Repunched 841 Digits
1
1
1
3
5
19
Transitional Large O Closed Bud Reverse
1
2
2
1
6
7
20
Transitional Small O Closed Bud Reverse
2
1
3
9
21
Large Obverse Rim Cud at 10:00
1
3
3
3
1
11
3
22
Shattered Reverse Die, Med O Mintmark
    1  1  4  1  3    
10
4
23
Shattered Reverse Die of 1841
      1  2    3    
6
4
24
Small O Mintmark, Rim Cud at 10:00
 
 1
    
 2
      
3
5
25
Repunched 1843 Digits
  
 2