@Barberian . Very nice and very rare. Did you compare this one to the one at Northeast Numismatic at all? Theirs has a very strong reverse but such an unfortunate scratch on the obverse. I think you get a better "Liberty" too. Congrats. James
@seatedlib3991 said: @Barberian . Very nice and very rare. Did you compare this one to the one at Northeast Numismatic at all? Theirs has a very strong reverse but such an unfortunate scratch on the obverse. I think you get a better "Liberty" too. Congrats. James
Not before the GC auction. I like this coin better for its nice, original look, and I got this for a much lower price. It's a good deal all around.
Counting chickens before they hatch...
This 1867-S was ordered two nights ago, and hopefully it will arrive soon.
1867-S PCGS XF40 CAC
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.
. @sedulous, the 1843-O has cupric salts showing on the coin, likely from PVC flip leachate reacting with the copper in the coin. The coin needs to be soaked in 100% acetone to remove that green crud or it will continue etching the coin. I'd even roll a Q-tip swab with acetone over the green spots to facilitate removal if a good soaking doesn't remove them. I can already see some damage from the green crud.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you. https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
@Copperindian said:
Posted in another thread, but it definitely belongs here too:
Quite the provenance traced back nearly 120 years. The coin upgraded since publication of the auction writeup.
The current photo is not a match to the coin in the auction plate photo.
Just look at the mint mark location.
It is high and left in the current photo.
It is middle and centered (Gerry's terms; I would call it low and right) in the auction plate photo.
In both the above auction photos, it should be clear that the mint mark is lower and right than in your PCGS MS67 CAC photos. It matches the Eliasberg sale plate photo that you posted.
Your coin is shown in Gerry Fortin's Sales Archive as a PCGS MS67 CAC F-102 and when it sold in May 2025, it did not include the provenance you listed.
His description was:
Finest Known, Gem Original, Gerry Fortin Collection.. Honors for the third "finest known" in the Fortin Collection goes to the 1869-S issue, a scarce date in Mint State. This lone MS67 certified example suddenly appeared within a Great Collections auction during 2021 with no prior auction appearances. The preservation is flawless with deeply frosted luster and swirling cartwheels. Obverse motifs are fully impressed while the reverse shows typical weakness at the upper left wheat grains. A phenomenal specimen with charm that will last a collecting lifetime. F-102 die pairing with a Small Weak S. Utilized as the plate coin within The Definitive Resource for Liberty Seated Dime Variety Collectors online reference. The CAC price guide indicates $26,400 as market value while PCGS quotes $30,000. Acquired April 2021 via Great Collections auction. Housed in PCGS Gen 3.1 (1993-1998) holder with CAC approval. PCGS #4650.
@yosclimber: excellent post (& legwork)! In another thread, a member commented it was the “far rarer F-102” is how he put it. As I don’t collect this series, it didn’t mean much to me at the time. Now it does. Appreciate your clarity provided, as well as the interesting history!
In the interest of accuracy, I’ve deleted the auction reference so as not to cause any further confusion to anyone else.
Comments
I've been distracted by scarce die marriages and die states this year.
1874-S WB-5
1874-S WB-2
I just landed this upgrade off of GC. I couldn't resist it, and I'm delighted to win it. Now I have to figure out a way to pay for it.
PCGS VF25 Great Photo
TrueView
@Barberian . Very nice and very rare. Did you compare this one to the one at Northeast Numismatic at all? Theirs has a very strong reverse but such an unfortunate scratch on the obverse. I think you get a better "Liberty" too. Congrats. James
Not before the GC auction. I like this coin better for its nice, original look, and I got this for a much lower price. It's a good deal all around.
This was in an old Whitman blue... a long-time collection. Recently discovered at my LCS. Amazing! These must have been a part of a Type set:
1870-P SLH
1843-O SLH
I'll Throw This One In as a "pre-Seated" - 1839-O Capped Bust Half
Amazing! Beautiful and Tough Looking Original Like This
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Counting chickens before they hatch...
This 1867-S was ordered two nights ago, and hopefully it will arrive soon.
1867-S PCGS XF40 CAC
.
.
.
@sedulous, the 1843-O has cupric salts showing on the coin, likely from PVC flip leachate reacting with the copper in the coin. The coin needs to be soaked in 100% acetone to remove that green crud or it will continue etching the coin. I'd even roll a Q-tip swab with acetone over the green spots to facilitate removal if a good soaking doesn't remove them. I can already see some damage from the green crud.
Love that coin, perfect look for a high end circ.
I crossed the Seated Liberty Dollar from an NGC/CAC 45 holder to the PCGS holder.
Posted in another thread, but it definitely belongs here too:
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
quite the golden hue on that 69-S dime!
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
The current photo is not a match to the coin in the auction plate photo.
Just look at the mint mark location.
It is high and left in the current photo.
It is middle and centered (Gerry's terms; I would call it low and right) in the auction plate photo.
The current photo is the plate coin for F-102 in Gerry's guide.
The auction plate photo looks more like a F-101.
https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/pictorial/1869s.htm
@yosclimber: interesting observation; for me, it’s too close to call. That being said, I’m sticking with the source for this one.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Thanks for replying.
I looked into it.
The ex-Reimers, Clapp and Eliasberg is in fact a F-101.
It was a NGC MS67 in 2018-8 at Heritage, where it mentions that provenance, and the mint mark position matches the Eliasberg sale plate above.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/seated-dimes/dimes/1869-s-10c-f-101-r3-ms67-ngc/a/1278-3402.s
It was a PCGS MS66 in 2006-6 at Goldberg Auctions, where it also mentions the above provenance.
http://images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?site=1&sale=14&lot=2160&lang=1
In both the above auction photos, it should be clear that the mint mark is lower and right than in your PCGS MS67 CAC photos. It matches the Eliasberg sale plate photo that you posted.
Your coin is shown in Gerry Fortin's Sales Archive as a PCGS MS67 CAC F-102 and when it sold in May 2025, it did not include the provenance you listed.
His description was:
https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/SalesArchive.html
What was your source for this provenance?
Either way, it's a great coin.
I am just trying to be accurate about the provenance and die pair attribution.
No question about it:
Also, the date positions on the two coins are different and the OP coin is clashed on both sides while the coin referenced from the catalog is not.
@yosclimber: excellent post (& legwork)! In another thread, a member commented it was the “far rarer F-102” is how he put it. As I don’t collect this series, it didn’t mean much to me at the time. Now it does. Appreciate your clarity provided, as well as the interesting history!
In the interest of accuracy, I’ve deleted the auction reference so as not to cause any further confusion to anyone else.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon