1860 Dime Die Trial - J-A1860-2

Coin Details

Description

This die trial captures the 1860 Seated Liberty dime in its newly redesigned configuration, incorporating changes that had been introduced in 1859-1860 across the silver coinage. The most visible modification was the replacement of the open laurel wreath on the reverse with a heavier "cereal wreath" composed of corn, wheat, maple, and oak — agricultural symbols reflecting America's agrarian identity. Additionally, the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" had been moved to the obverse in 1860 (for the dime), replacing the thirteen stars that previously surrounded the Seated Liberty figure. These design changes gave the dime a significantly different appearance from its predecessors and brought it into alignment with the broader redesign initiative led by Mint Director James Ross Snowden. The obverse features the Seated Liberty with the national legend, the date 1860, and a small shield at Liberty's side. The Judd-A1860-2 designation catalogs this die trial within the broader sequence of Seated Liberty dime test pieces. The 1860 dime had a Philadelphia mintage of 607,000 pieces, supplemented by production at New Orleans (40,000) and San Francisco (140,000). Testing the dies for a redesigned coin was especially critical because the new elements — particularly the heavier cereal wreath — changed the metal flow dynamics during striking, and die trials allowed the Mint to verify that the modified design would transfer cleanly under production conditions.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Die trials of the redesigned 1860 Seated Liberty dime are very scarce, with most varieties known in only one to three specimens.

Cross References

Judd-A1860-2