Liberty Seated Dimes Varieties 1837-1891 - 1875 Below Wreath San Francisco Variety Chapter Page

1875-S

Below Wreath

Micro S

Small S


Mintage: 9,070,000 (Including In Wreath Variety)

Top 100	Var#	Obv	Rev	DR	Obverse / Reverse Quick Diagnostics	Ahwash	Greer
					Micro S
	101	1	A	1R	High Date, Slight Down Slope / Filled Micro S, [mm Lt,H], Die Cracks
	102	1.2	B	1R	LDS, High Date, Sl. Down Slope /Filled Micro S, DScr in Left Wreath
	102a	1.2	B.2	1R	LDS, High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Filled Micro S, Shattered Reverse	A-5
	103	2	C	1L	High Level Date, Partial S & O / Filled Micro S, [mm Lt,H]	A-6
	104	3	D	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Filled Micro S, Reverse Rotated 18 Deg
*	104a	3.2	D	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Unfilled Micro S, Reverse Rotated 18 Deg

					Small S
	101	1	A	1C	High Date, Sl. Down Slope, Die Scr Stripes 2-6 / Small S, [mm Lt,L]	A-4
	102	2	B	1C	Med Level Date, DD On Mid Section / Small S, [mm Lt,C] Rim Cud 11:30
	103	3	C	1C	High Date, Sl. Down Slope, DCr Bottom of Date / Small S, [mm Lt,C]
	104	4	D	1L	High Level Date, DD Above Pendant / Small S, [mm Lt,H], Worn Die
	105	5	E	1B2	High Level Date, DD on Leg / Small S, [mm Lt,H], DCr Below Left Wreath
	106	6	F	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope, Doubling On Shield / Weak Sm S, [mm Lt,H]
	107	7	G	1L	Med Level Date, DCr Below Rt. Arm / Sm S, [mm Lt,C], DCr Lower Wreath
	108	8	H	1C	High Level Date, Broken S & O / Small S, [mm Lt,H]
	109	9	I	1R	High Level Date / Reverse Rotated Left 50 Deg Small S, [mm Lt,H,TR]
	109a	9.2	I.2	1R	Polished Die, High Level Date / Polished and Cracked Die
	110	10	J	1C	High Level Date / Cracked Right Wreath, Small S, [mm Lt,H]
	111	11	K	0B1	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Cracked Die, DDR, Small S, [mm Lt,C]
	112	12	L.2	0R	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Small Filled S, Cracked Die, [mm Lt,H]
	113	13	M	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope, Cracked Die / Small S, [mm Lt,H]
	114	14	N	0B1	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Shattered Die, Small S, [mm Lt,H]
	115	15	O	1L	Misplaced 8, High Date, Sl. Dn Slope / Cracked Die, Sm S, [mm Lt,H]
	116	11	P	0B1	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Badly Rusted Die, Small S, [mm C,H]
	117	14	L	0B1	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Small Filled S, Cracked Die, [mm Lt,H]
	118	15	Q	1C	Misplaced 8 in Denticles, High Level Date / Small S, [mm Lt,H]
	118a	15	Qa	1C	MPD 8 in Denticles, High Level Date / Rev Rotated Left 80 Deg, Sm S
	119	16	R.2	1C	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Sm Filled S, DCr 4:00-5:30 [mm Lt,C]
	120	17	S	1R	High Level Date / Small S, Shattered Die [mm Rt,H]
	121	18	R	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Small Filled S, [mm Rt,C]
	121a	18.2	R.2	1L	Die Cracks, High Date, Sl. Dn Slope / Sm Filled S, DCr 4:00-5:30
	122	19	T	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope / Shattered Reverse, Small S, [mm C,C]
	123	20	U	1L	High Date, Sl. Down Slope, Rim Cud@4:00/Clashed Die, Sm S, [mm Rt,C]


Variety Vs. Denticle Ruler Cross Reference Table
 
Reverse Die and Mintmark Position Comparison Guide

Scarcity: This date is common through all grades including Mint State.  The Micro S mintmark variety is considered 
scarce in circulated grades and is very scarce in Mint State.  The Small Filled S mintmark variety is rare in all 
grades including Mint State, though the mintmark size is a variant to the Small Block S.

Many Small S dimes are found with worn, shattered and/or rusted reverse dies.  In many cases, these poor quality 
reverse dies are paired with well struck and early die state obverse dies. The result is dimes that are difficult to 
grade due to strike quality gap between obverse and reverse.  More research is needed on this under appreciated date 
to determine potential explanations for the poor condition of many reverse dies.
 
Updated Greer Rarity Ratings
Rarity Rating Micro S: G-VG R3-, F-VF R3+, EF-AU R4, MS R5       
Rarity Rating Small Block S: G-VG R2, F-VF R2, EF-AU R3, MS R4-
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
Micro S - 101	R4	10-20%	Small S - 110	R3	-
Micro S - 102	R3	10-20%	Small S - 111	R3	-
Micro S - 102a	R5	50-100%	Small S - 112	R5	50-100%
Micro S - 103	R3	10-20%	Small S - 113	R3	-
Micro S - 104	R5	50-100%	Small S - 114	R4	-
Micro S - 104a	R6	200-400%	Small S - 115	R3	-
Small S - 101	R3	-	Small S - 116	R3	-
Small S - 102	R4	-	Small S - 117	R5	50-100%
Small S - 103	R3	-	Small S - 118	R4	-
Small S - 104	R3	-	Small S - 118a	R6	200-400%
Small S - 105	R3	-	Small S - 119	R5	50-100%
Small S - 106	R3	-	Small S - 120	R3	-
Small S - 107	R3	-	Small S - 121	R5	50-100%
Small S - 108	R4	-	Small S - 121a	R5	50-100%
Small S - 109	R6	200-400%	Small S - 122	R4	-
Small S - 109a	R5	10-20%	Small S - 123	R5	50-100%

Comments: 1875-S dimes are notorious for being weakly struck. The Micro S variety is almost always7
weakly struck. Obverse weakness is common at the head, foot, rock and within the legend. Reverse
weakness will be seen at the bow knot and within the upper left wreath. The Small Block S variety
can be found well struck on occasions. Typical obverse weakness will again be at the head, foot and
rock, while the reverse will show weakness in the wreath. The Small Block S reverse dies are often badly
cracked in conjunction with strike weakness.

Breen lists a Tall Narrow S under the wreath for 1875-S dimes. Greer indicates that "One mintmark punch
used below the wreath during this year is filled and slightly larger than the other Small Block S
mintmarks." During March 2005, an 1875-S example with a Small Filled S was located and is presently listed
as Variety 112. The mintmark size and shape matches the Small Filled S mintmarks listings for 1876-S and
1877-S dimes. I believe the Small Filled S mintmark to be the Tall Narrow S mintmark previously listed
by Breen and as discussed by Greer. During 2010 through 2012 timeframe, three additional Small Filled S
varieties have surfaced based on die marriages with two different reverse dies.

The variety classification of Small Block S dies and their obverse and reverse die pairings is beyond
the scope of this research effort. I have listed examples that have been accumulated over the past
20 or so years and have made no effort to determine individual variety rarities, instead designating
each listing as R3, except for Varieties 109, 109a and the Small Filled S mintmarks varieties (R5).

Value As A Date (Coin World Trends/CoinValues

Grade	1963	1973	1983	1993	2003	2012
G	1.25	2.25	3.75	4	20	15
F	2.5	4	7	8	30	25
EF	-	10	30	21	40	40
MS60	15	90	225	145	200	200
MS63	-	-	-	295	400	450

1875-S Below Wreath Date Gallery

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