1859 Dime Patterns

About This Coin

From the terminal year of the Early Republic Patterns (1792-1859), the 1859 Dime Patterns emerged during the year before the Mint moved the legend and changed the wreath on the Seated Liberty dime in 1860. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint, the one dime pattern of the year, Judd-233, pairs the regular starred obverse with the cereal-wreath reverse of 1860, so it carries no country name (USPatterns). The year 1859 also saw the Indian Head cent's introduction, signaling openness to bold design changes. For collectors, the 1859 dime patterns mark the closing chapter of the foundational era when the Mint's design vocabulary was being established through continuous experimentation and artistic exploration.