As you probably know some of our (United States of America) early "Liberty Seated" Half Dimes, Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars had arrows placed before and after the dates. Let me ask you, "Why?" "What are those dates?" "Are mint marks on any of those coins?" There are two different reasons for placing those arrows at the dates. In 1853 and 1873 the Mints in Service struck both "no arrows at date" and "arrows at date" coins. The dates are 1853 and 1854 on Half Dimes struck at Philadelphia and New Orleans. Only "no arrows at date" Half Dimes were struck in 1873, the last year Half Dimes were minted. 1853 (made in Philadelphia and New Orleans), 1854 (Philadelphia and New Orleans) and 1855 (Philadelphia only) as well as the years 1873 (Philadelphia, San Francico and Carson City) and 1874 (Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco) on Dimes. No "no arrows at date" Dimes were minted at San Francisco in 1873. 1853 (Philadelphia and New Orleans), 1854 (Philadelphia and New Orleans) and 1855 )Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco) as well as 1873 (Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco) and 1874 (Philadelphia and San Francisco) on Quarters. 1853 (Philadelphia and New Orleans), 1854 (Philadelphia and New Orleans), and 1855 (Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco) as well as 1873 (Philadelphia and Carson City) and 1874 (Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco) on Half Dollars. When you see any Liberty Seated U.S. coin dated 1853 with "arrows at date" that means the Silver content of that issue was reduced in regards to the earlier "no arrows at date" denominations. When you see any Liberty Seated U.S. coin dated 1873 with "arrows at date" that means the silver content of that issue was increased in regards to the earlier "no arrows at date" coins. I'm not going to include photos of all the "arrows at date coins," but I am including photos of some. Hope you enjoy them and better understand the reason for the "arrows at date" notations. First an 1853 "no arrows at date" Half Dime (courtesy of coinfacts.com): http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dimes/seated_liberty_half_dimes/1853_half_dime.htm And now an 1853 "arrows at date" Half Dime (coinfacts.com): http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dimes/seated_liberty_half_dimes/1853_half_dime_arrowheads.htm Here's an 1873 "arrows at date" Half Dollar (coinfacts.com): http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dollars/seated_liberty_half_dollars/1873_arrows_half_dollar.htm Did you enjoy this trivia? Clinker
Thanks. I just picked up a 1853 "with arrows" dime for about 6 bucks in g-4. Redbook has it at like 14, so I think I did pretty good. I didn't know this trivia, so thanks.
To bobbeth87: Thanks for reading, sharing and your first comment on one of my "TRIVIA" posts... Clinker
