1878 Seated Liberty Dime

About This Coin

The 1878 Seated Liberty Dime is a United States dime from the Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891 series — 42nd of 55 years in the series. In 1878, coins were struck at the Philadelphia and Carson City Mints with a combined mintage of 1.9 million. This ranks 24th of 55 years by total mintage, below 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 Gilded Age of rapid industrialization and the great silver debates, when monetary policy shaped elections and economic destiny. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 2.5 grams, 17.9 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Struck one year before the 1879 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $23 to $3.4K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $24K in MS68 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by James Barton Longacre.