I found this yesterday while metal detecting on the corner of my property: From the research I've done, this dime seems to be somewhat of a rarity. It has the "large O" that was left over from the 1838 die, a couple double-stamped stars, and two distinguishable rim cuds. I've matched it to this: http://www.seateddimevarieties.com/date_mintmark/1839o_105apage.htm It's in crazy-good shape, with tons of fine detail. I haven't cleaned it at all, so I suspect more detail would come out if I do. Does anyone have any information on this little guy? Thanks in advance!
First, we alter the images a bit to alleviate my personal neuroses. Lovely little coin. Do not clean it! Everything you do to it from this point onward will lower the value. It will likely be adjudicated as "Details - Environmental Damage" by a third-party grader as it is because of the spots. F-105 is the most common variety for the date, but it's not really a "common" date to begin with. The detail on your coin is at least XF and probably AU. Quite the find.
Nice find. In good condition is sells for about $17.00. Yours is better than good. Melt value is around $1.25 at today's pricing. That tells me that your dime has more value to a collector than for the silver in it and that means it always will. Since the mintage is only 1,291,000 the survival rate is less, or 1 more than it was after you found it.
Please heed the previous cautions not to clean the coin. It is in its highest state of preservation as it sits . . . original and wholesome.
It is definitely the "large O" variety. I need better pics to tell more. There is a "Huge O"; reverse of 1838 O but again, better pics and rotated correctly please. Brian Greer, in his "Complete Guide to Seated Liberty Dimes" lists the "small O" as rarer than the "Large O" variety but the "Huge O " as being rarest of the three.
The coin could be conserved but unless one is very experienced and has the proper equipment, the odds of ruining it are great. For me personally, it lies on the line. I might give it to the professionals.
So apparently this coin has some value. I'm getting serious interest from multiple folks. It's the quality. These pictures don't do it justice. I'll post some better ones. I should probably consult with a pro and get it certified. That way I'll know the grade definitively. Wow.
The obverse rim cuds are definitive of (per Fortin) Obverse 3 and F-105a (since both cuds are present). From a technical standpoint it's either a good XF45 or a weak AU50. The surfaces would almost certainly be adjudicated as unoriginal by a TPG, either called Cleaned or Environmental Damage, but in the grand scheme of things it's a really nice example which wouldn't lose the kind of value a harshly cleaned or damaged piece would. I'm usually unafraid to conserve coins, but this is one I wouldn't touch. If your intent is to get it to a TPG, contemplate routing it through their conservation service first. They won't touch it if they don't think they can improve it, and the result might just sneak into a "straight" slab which (in PCGS plastic) would likely mean a $500 coin. Any knowledgeable collector of the series would throw something north of $200 at you right_now for it, assuming it's as nice in-hand as your images seem to indicate.
Very nice find! Fortin's work is a very valuable reference that is absolutely essential to any seated dime collector. Don't know what I'd do without it!
