Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

SEATED LIBERTY DIME

1837–1891
NO STARS • STARS • ARROWS • LEGEND • CARSON CITY KEYS
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Date
P3Common / Condition Pull
CCCarson City
ARRArrows
LEGLegend Obverse
Ag90% silver
AUTHAuthenticate
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1P1 MONEY COINS
Date / IssuePri.What To Check
1846P1Major key Philadelphia date
1871-CCP1Carson City key
1872-CCP1Carson City key
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Unique/legendary rarity
1874-CCP1Major Carson City key
1885-SP2Scarce S-mint date

1846

1846 placeholder

Major key Philadelphia date

1871-CC

1871-CC placeholder

Carson City key

1872-CC

1872-CC placeholder

Carson City key

1873-CC No Arrows

1873-CC No Arrows placeholder

Unique/legendary rarity

2TYPE GUIDE
Type / EraYearsDiagnostic
No Stars1837–1838No stars around Liberty
Stars Obverse1838–1860Stars around Liberty
Arrows at Date1853–1855, 1873–1874Weight-change markers
Legend Obverse1860–1891UNITED STATES legend on obverse
SEATED LIBERTY DIME obverse placeholderOBVERSE
SEATED LIBERTY DIME reverse placeholderREVERSE
Image note: Internet-hosted image placeholders are included. Replace with licensed/local images in production.
3KEY DATE CHART
Date / GroupPri.Notes
1846P1Major key
1860-OP2Final New Orleans before Civil War
1871-CCP1CC key
1872-CCP1CC key
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Unique rarity
1874-CCP1CC key
Sorting tip: Identify type first, then check date, mintmark/edge, surface quality, and variety diagnostics.
4STRIKE & CONDITION DIAGNOSTICS
FeaturePull If / Check
MintmarkO, S, or CC on reverse; no mintmark = Philadelphia
ArrowsCheck 1853–55 and 1873–74
DateCC dates must be verified carefully
StrikeLiberty head, shield, wreath detail
SurfacesOriginal silver, no cleaning
Condition rule: Original surfaces and problem-free coins usually beat cleaned or damaged examples, even on better dates.
5VARIETIES & ERROR COINS
Variety / ErrorPri.What To Look For
1873-CC No ArrowsP1Famous rarity
Arrows/No ArrowsP1/P2Weight-change varieties
CC mintmark issuesP1Key branch-mint pulls
Repunched datesP2Specialist varieties
ProofsP2Low-mintage proof dates
variety placeholderVARIETY CHECK
reverse diagnostic placeholderREVERSE / EDGE
6QUICK SORT CHECKLIST

CHECK FIRST

  1. 1846
  2. 1871-CC
  3. 1872-CC
  4. 1873-CC No Arrows
  5. 1874-CC
  6. 1885-S
  7. Arrows dates
  8. CC mintmarks
  9. Original surfaces
  10. Authenticate keys
Fast workflow: type → date → mintmark/edge → weight/specs → variety → condition → authenticate P1 finds.
Authenticate: P1 rarities, famous varieties, proofs, and expensive high-grade pieces before sale.
SORT SMART. VERIFY MAJOR FINDS. NEVER CLEAN COLLECTIBLE COINS.
Primary source: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/dimes/liberty-seated-dime-1837-1891/703
Notice Updated