Seated Liberty Dime
Although it underwent a number of modification the Seated Liberty Dime had a long run from 1837 to 1891 and was brought about in part by Andrew Jackson’s Presidency who began expanding the borders of the United States further and further west.
By 1837 the United States decided that new coinage was needed that reflected the United States growing power and prestige.
Mint Directors Robert Maskell Patterson’s idea for a new coin design was based on the seated figure of Britannia found on British coins. He then order the chief engraver at the time William Kneass to sketch the image of “Goddess Liberty” using a design similar to that of British coins.
Kenass suffered a stroke after sketching a rough draft for the coin so futher designs of the coin were done by artists Tom Sully and Titian Peale. Based on the Sully designs Christian Gobrecht another engraver was ordered to prepare dies for the new coin.
The 1837 Seated Liberty Dimes
The 1837 Seated Liberty Dime features Liberty sitting on a rock holding the union shield in her right hand. The shield has a banner with her name LIBERTY written across it. In her left hand she is holding a pole with a Phygarian cap. The background is clear and uncluttered.
On the reverse side of the coin ONE DIME is written in the center inside of a wreath. Written on the outside of the wreath is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (This was the first time the word dime appeared on the coin)
30 proofs of these dimes were originally minted and handed out of which 20 are still in existance today. The regular 1837 issue of dimes numbered 682,000 including the dimes with both large and small dates.
In 1838 the New Orleans mint issued between 406,000 and 490,000 dimes.
Modifications to the Seated Liberty Dime
There were several modifications made to the Seated Liberty Dime beginning in 1838 when the Philedelphia mint issued the dime with stars encircling Liberty. The stars would remain through 1860.
In 1840 a fold of drapery was added to the crook at Liberty’s elbow and the shield in her left hand was adjusted to an upright position.
In 1853 the amount of silver in the dime was reduced and arrows on either side of the date was added to signify this change.
In 1860 stars were removed from the dime and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears on the front of the dime.
Today’s collectors tend to collect the sitting liberty coins by categories rather than trying to collect all of the coins. Some of the most scarce issues of this dime are:
- 1853- without the arrows
- 1846
- 1856S
- 1859-S