1857 Seated Liberty Dime

About This Coin

The 1857 Seated Liberty Dime is a United States dime from the Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891 series — 21st of 55 years in the series. In 1857, coins were struck at the Philadelphia and New Orleans Mints with a combined mintage of 7.1 million. This ranks 44th of 55 years by total mintage, above the series median of 2.1 million. 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 and 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). Struck during the California Gold Rush era, when vast quantities of western gold transformed the American economy and led to new denominations. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 2.48 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Across its variants, estimated values range from $24 to $3.6K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $20K in PR67+ grade at Stack's Bowers. Designed by Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht.