1838 Seated Liberty Dime

About This Coin

The 1838 Seated Liberty Dime is a United States dime from the Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891 series. The obverse features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian liberty cap in her left hand and a shield inscribed LIBERTY in her right, while the reverse displays an agricultural wreath enclosing the denomination (through 1859) or a wreath enclosing ONE DIME with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (1860-1891). Designed by Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht. Struck in white metal, weighing 2.67 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Produced at the New Orleans and Philadelphia Mints. The Seated Liberty Dime ran for over half a century, making it one of the longest-lived U.S. coin designs. Numerous subtypes exist: No Stars (1837-1838), Stars on Obverse (1838-1860), Arrows at Date (1853-1855, 1873-1874), and Legend on Obverse (1860-1891). The arrows indicated weight changes mandated by Congress. Popular with variety collectors. The 1873-CC "No Arrows" is a major rarity (only one known). The 1894-S with a mintage of 24 is one of the most famous U.S. coins.