1889 10C Liberty Seated Dime PCGS MS63 (CAC)

This coin is perfect for a collector whose interests lie in the Seated Liberty series. An 1889 dime can be part of different sets that a numismatist can successfully develop. If you are a dime enthusiast, then there are a few options. One would be to collect a type set of all dimes from the Draped Bust series (1796 to 1807) all the way up to the Roosevelt series (1946-present). Depending upon your budget, a type set can be a combination of circulated and uncirculated examples. And if a specific type is too expensive, it can simply be left out of the set. Another option is to collect one of each of the different varieties of Seated dimes: Type 1 (no stars on obverse and no drapery, 1837-1838), Type 2 (stars on obverse, 1838-1853 and 1856-1869), Type 3 (arrows at date, 1853-1855), Type 4 (legend on obverse, 1860-1873 and 1875-1891), and Type 5 (arrows at date, 1873-1874). Please contact AUCM to discuss options for developing either of these type sets, or other sets that include Seated Liberty coinage.

Many collectors consider the Seated Liberty design to have been crafted solely by Christian Gobrecht. However, it was a collaboration of several hands and minds before it appeared on the half dollar and other coins. It was U.S. Mint Director Robert B. Patterson, who, in 1835, was desirous of a new coin that was reminiscent of Britannia on British copper, or images of Liberty from the French Revolution. Artist Thomas Sully was tasked with crafting a rendering of Liberty based on a set of British coins and medals. Then Sully's work was given to the newly hired engraver, Christian Gobrecht, who created a series of drawings before producing a copper die for study and presentation in Washington, D.C. It was in 1839 that the sculptor Robert Ball Hughes lowered the relief, refined the proportions and dynamics of the Liberty, and added an eloquent fold of cloth from the right elbow. The first coin with the new Seated Liberty design was the "Gobrecht dollar" of 1836, followed by the dime and other silver coins.

The Legend Obverse Seated Liberty dimes are among the most popular 19th century pieces for collectors--and are abundant in a wide range of grades. Due to their small size, they typically have fewer abrasions then the larger coins. When grading the obverse design, the friction from being circulated first appears on the head, breast, and knee of lady Liberty; on the reverse, look at the high points on the wreath and bow knot for signs of wear. The Legend Obverse dimes from the last years of the series--1882 to 1891--are more plentiful than other Seated Liberty coins of this time period. The entire series of Seated Liberty dimes--from 1837 to 1891--saw 'Hard Times,' westward expansion, the Civil War, and the closing of the western frontier. By the time this coin was struck in 1889, most Americans had only known the Seated Liberty issues.