1838–1853: Liberty Seated Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse)

1843 Liberty Seated Dime Variety 2 Stars on Obverse obverse and reverse

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1838-1853

Country: United States

Denomination: Ten cents

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Weight: 2.67 g

Diameter: 17.9 mm

Thickness: Approx. 1.35 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty seated on a rock holding shield and pole.

1838–1853: Liberty Seated Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse) history

1838–1853: Liberty Seated Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse) adds thirteen stars around Christian Gobrecht’s Seated Liberty figure. It predates the arrows used to announce the 1853 weight reduction, so James B. Longacre’s later arrows work does not belong in this subtype’s designer specification.

This dime interval is identified by thirteen obverse stars and ONE DIME within the wreath. The date markers and 2.49-gram standard separate 1838–1853: Liberty Seated Dime (Variety 2: Stars on Obverse) from the adjacent arrows subtypes.