My new scarcest Seated Dime date/mm - 1870-S
Omegaraptor
Posts: 540 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hello, I’m the biggest cheapskate in Seated collecting and I have acquired yet another key date Seated Dime. I purchased this piece for $25.
Although the mintmark area has been holed through, I ran it through Gerry Fortin’s web-book. As many of you know, coins from the western mints in this time period often come mutilated.
Only one die pair was used to strike 1870-S dimes. This die pair has:
1) A broken/weak top of the first S in STATES
2) Lathe lines in Liberty’s gown - most prominently just to the right of the shield
3) Misplaced date punches in the denticles
4) Unique date position, farther right than any 1870 Philadelphia issue
5) Very weakly impressed ONE DIME on the reverse
This coin exhibits all five of these features. It is unmistakably an 1870-S. This would be a $900 coin problem-free, and it’s probably worth more than $25, but I’m not sure by how much. Perhaps ANACS would be able to slab it if I really wanted to and identified the Fortin variety? If they can slab 1916 SLQs with the date completely worn off based on die characteristics, I don’t see why this would be beyond authentication.
Hope this thread at least proved interesting, even if coins like this aren't exactly your thing. Can serve as an authenticator for 1870-S dimes, although I doubt there are any added mintmark 1870 dimes out there. I have heard there are 1864 dimes with removed mintmarks though, so I wouldn't be surprised.
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
Comments
I think its great. Was obviously circulated, worn on a necklace, someone thought it special at one time. The history of coins and what they have been through intrigues me the most. I do like shiny new looking ones, but the rougher shape ones really speak to me for some reason.
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Congratulations - that is some fine investigative work there, too!
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
WOW, what if that was half dime.
You probably could get it certified with a necklace pedigree
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
@Omegaraptor... Good job on the authentication and thanks for listing the PUP's.... Cheers, RickO