1840 Dime Die Trial - J-A1840-2

Coin Details

Auction Record

$15,275 MS62 08-06-2014 Stack's Bowers

Description

This die trial of an 1840 Seated Liberty dime captures an early year of the series, just two years after the design's introduction. By 1840, the Seated Liberty dime was still a relatively new denomination, and the Mint was refining its production techniques for the smaller Gobrecht design. The obverse features the seated figure of Liberty with pole and liberty cap, surrounded by thirteen stars and the date 1840, while the reverse displays "ONE DIME" within an open wreath. The 1840 dime had two major varieties — with and without drapery at Liberty's elbow. The "no drapery" version followed the original 1838 design, while the "with drapery" modification added fabric folds at Liberty's left elbow, strengthening the design and providing additional die life. This die trial, cataloged as Judd-A1840-2, may correspond to either the drapery or no-drapery variety, and its study can help researchers understand which die configuration was being tested. Production at Philadelphia totaled 1,358,580 dimes for 1840, supplemented by 1,175,000 from the New Orleans Mint — the first branch mint to produce Seated Liberty dimes. Die trials from the early Seated Liberty dime series are valuable references for understanding how the Mint managed the transition to Gobrecht's new design across its facilities.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Early Seated Liberty dime die trials are scarce, with most individual Judd appendix varieties known in only one to three specimens.

Cross References

Judd-A1840-2