"1883" Hawaiian Fantasy Strike - Dime, Obverse Hub Impression

Coin Details

Description

This obverse hub impression of the Hawaiian Dime (umi keneta, or ten cents) denomination is a fantasy strike showing the Kalakaua portrait from the dime hub. The Hawaiian dime was the smallest denomination in the 1883 coinage series, with a mintage of approximately 250,000 pieces struck at the San Francisco Mint. The dime hub presented Charles Barber with the challenge of rendering the Kalakaua portrait at the smallest scale while maintaining recognizability and artistic quality. The 17.9mm diameter of the Hawaiian dime matched the U.S. dime, and Barber successfully adapted his portrait design to this compact format. NGC catalogs this piece under number 14709, indicating it has been certified and recognized as a legitimate numismatic item rather than a modern reproduction. The dime hub impression is part of the broader series of Hawaiian hub impressions covering all denominations from the hapawalu through the akahi dala.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Dime-denomination hub impressions are among the scarcer types in the series. NGC #14709, PCGS #511337.

Cross References

NGC #14709; PCGS #511337; Medcalf-Russell