1838 (O) Seated Liberty Dime - CU-10c-1838O-01 Rim Cud

Description

Struck at the New Orleans Mint during its inaugural year of operations, this 1838-O Seated Liberty Dime carries a rim cud, cataloged by Cuds on Coins as CU-10c-1838O-01. The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838 as the federal government expanded coinage capacity beyond Philadelphia, and dimes were among the first denominations produced there. A rim cud represents the loss of part of the die's rim gutter: on the coin it appears as a raised interruption in the design rim that tracks the rim's course. The Seated Liberty design by Christian Gobrecht, featuring Liberty seated on a rock holding a liberty cap on a pole, served on the dime from 1837 through 1891. First-year New Orleans coins carry special historical significance because they represent the launch of Southern branch mint operations, and die varieties from 1838-O document the mechanical challenges of establishing a new facility with fresh equipment and personnel. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this rim cud preserves evidence of die stress from the dawn of New Orleans Mint dime production.

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