Seated Liberty Dime Value: Types, Arrows and Mint Marks

In this article

Quick answer

The Seated Liberty dime is a ten-cent silver series dated 1837–1891, with several obverse, reverse and weight changes. Read ONE DIME, the date, mint mark and type before using a value or silver-content calculation.

For a defined later common-date reference, NumisMedia’s October 24, 2026 guide lists 1876 Philadelphia at $15 in G4, $17 in F12 and $28 in XF40. Early No Stars issues, scarce mints, Proofs and recognized varieties need their own comparisons.

Coin photos

1876 Philadelphia Seated Liberty dime obverse: seated figure, country legend and date without arrows.

Same 1876 reverse: ONE DIME inside the wreath; no mint letter identifies Philadelphia.

Basics & coin story

Christian Gobrecht’s seated Liberty became a major nineteenth-century design, appearing on several silver denominations. On the dime, the familiar figure holds a shield and a liberty pole. The reverse identifies the denomination, which is essential when sorting it from a smaller half dime.

The first dimes have a plain field around Liberty. Stars and later drapery details changed the front; the country name moved to the obverse with the later design, while the reverse wreath also changed. These are intentional types rather than missing-letter errors.

Arrows beside the date marked weight-standard changes in the 1850s and 1870s. They are not mint marks. A later coin without arrows can still belong to the newer weight standard. The half-dime guide covers the separate five-cent silver denomination.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Series / denomination	1837–1891 / ten cents
Principal design	Christian Gobrecht’s seated Liberty
Normal alloy	90% silver, 10% copper
Major type clues	No Stars, Stars, drapery, legend placement and arrows
Mint identities across series	No mark Philadelphia; O, S and CC where issued
Mint mark location	Reverse; exact position depends on reverse type
1876 nominal mass / diameter	2.50 g / about 17.9 mm
1876 fine silver	Approximately 0.07234 troy ounce; not every early issue uses this weight

Identification

Read ONE DIME and inspect both sides

The seated portrait alone cannot distinguish a dime from every other Seated Liberty denomination. Read the denomination and compare dimensions with the exact issue. A photograph without scale can make a half dime appear deceptively similar.

The pictured 1876 Philadelphia dime has the later obverse country legend and reverse wreath. Earlier stars or missing surrounding words can be normal for their type. Do not describe a genuine early design as an incomplete strike merely because it differs from this example.

Treat arrows as a date-and-type clue

Look on both sides of the date for arrows. The 1853–1855 and 1873–1874 arrow issues belong to different changes, so arrows alone do not identify one universal weight or price. Some transition years have distinct with-arrow and without-arrow listings.

Weighing a worn coin can support the identification, but the catalog type comes first. Do not use a 2.50-gram late-series standard to reject every earlier coin. The older standards differ, and circulation can also reduce actual mass.

Find the mint letter and preserve the fields

O identifies New Orleans, S San Francisco and CC Carson City where issued. The reverse arrangement changed during the series, so compare the mark location to the proper design. An empty normal Philadelphia location does not prove a missing-mark error.

Check Liberty’s head, breast and knees and the open fields for wear, scratches and cleaning. The grading scale helps organize that assessment. A sharp date does not prove the rest of the coin is uncirculated.

Condition & value

USD NumisMedia collector FMV snapshot updated October 24, 2026. The 1876 circulated rows are issue-specific and do not value the photographed MS63 specimen or earlier types.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1876 Philadelphia	G4 / VG8	$15 / $16	NumisMedia FMV, Oct 24, 2026	Later common-date circulated example
1876 Philadelphia	F12 / VF20	$17 / $18	Same dated guide	Correct wear grade and acceptable surfaces
1876 Philadelphia	XF40	$28	Same dated guide	Not the value of the photographed MS63 coin
1876-CC	G4 / XF40	$22 / $132	Same dated guide	Different mint from the Philadelphia example
1876 nominal silver component	0.07234 troy oz	0.07234 × silver spot per troy oz	Metal calculation	Earlier weight standards need their own calculation

The table compares one date and two mints, not the entire fifty-five-year design span. A scarce early date, an overdate or a Proof should not inherit the ordinary 1876 values. Coins with a hole, heavy cleaning or corrosion need separately described comparisons.

The pictured Philadelphia coin was cataloged as PCGS MS63. Its remaining detail illustrates a late type; the circulated rows are not a valuation of that specimen. For any premium, find completed transactions at the same grade and surface status.

Record the exact date, mint, arrows or other type, grading service, transaction date and fees. If the denomination or attribution remains uncertain, use the coin identification guide before treating the piece as a scarce dime. Preserve the surface rather than trying to make old silver shine.

Summary

Identify ONE DIME, its design type, date and reverse mint mark. Apply the weight standard and value listing for that exact issue. Arrows and design changes are useful identifiers, while condition and authenticity determine the appropriate market comparison.

FAQ

Are Seated Liberty dimes silver?

Standard Seated Liberty dimes are 90% silver, but their nominal weight changed during the series. Use the exact date and type for a silver calculation.

What do arrows beside the date mean?

They identify particular issues associated with weight-standard changes. They are not mint marks or automatic striking errors.

Where is the mint mark?

On the reverse. O, S and CC identify branch mints where issued; the exact position depends on the reverse type.

Can a Seated half dime use a Seated dime price?

No. The half dime is a separate five-cent denomination. Read HALF DIME or ONE DIME before choosing a guide.

References

References and further reading

References consulted October 27, 2026. Price tables retain the update dates stated in the text; guide estimates, face values and completed transactions are different forms of evidence.