1
181
bid online at
(800) 978-COIN (2646)
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Dimes
E
XTREMELY
R
ARE
G
EM
P
ROOF
1843 D
IME
Enlargement
1180
1843
.
NGC graded Proof 65
. As is the case with all early proof coinage, the 1843 Liberty Seated dime is a major numismatic rarity. Mintage
estimates by leading researchers indicate somewhere on the order of 8 to 10 coins, this being solidified by David Akers in the October 1997
catalog for the
John Jay Pittman Collection, Part One
. The specific proof 1843 Liberty Seated dime we are offering in this lot was part of the
Pittman Collection, from which it was sold as part of a complete 1843 cased proof set that included the gold coinage. That set has now been
broken up; each coin offered separately to the public over the years. In his catalog, Akers wrote:
This date in Proof is extremely rare and was absent from virtually every important sale of Dimes in recent years, including such great collec-
tions as James Stack, Floyd Starr, Harold Bareford, Allen Lovejoy and Louis Eliasberg. There was, however, a specimen in the Norweb Collec-
tion …. Proof Dimes were struck in 1843 only for inclusion on the 10-15 Proof sets of the year. A few more seem to be around than of the Half
Dime, but the number of Proofs in existence still cannot be more than 8-10 pieces.
We are now fortunate enough to offer this exceedingly rare 1843 Liberty Seated dime as a Gem proof -- one of the finest known examples.
The proof characteristics are unmistakable with full striking details overall, deeply reflective fields, and a broad, sharp wire edge, particularly
visible on the obverse. Deep, rich copper and sky-blue patina combines with deeper gray over both sides. There are no mentionable distract-
ing blemishes, but a loupe does reveal a faint mint-made lintmark in the obverse field from the end of Liberty's foot that we mention only as
a pedigree marker.
It is believed that all proof 1843 Seated dimes were struck from a single die pairing. The reverse was from a master die that the Mint used to
strike most proof Seated dimes from 1839 to 1852. This was a customary practice in the Mint of the 1840s as far as reverse dies for most
proof coinage were concerned. The coin in this lot may be of even further importance if the proof set that it was once a part of was indeed
the one that has been described in the past as, "Presented by President (John) Tyler." This possible pedigree is also outlined by David W.
Akers'in his cataloging for the John Jay Pittman Collection, October 1997, lot 832, the 1843 cased proof set:
If this Pittman set is a complete original set, i.e. the gold, silver and copper coins contained herein were issued together, as seems likely, then
this set may be Winsor (1895): lot 1067, a complete 1843 Proof set with gold in original case which was said to have been, Presented by Pres-
ident (John) Tyler.
This coin is an extremely important offering for the advanced numismatist.
Pop 5; 1 finer in 66.
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................$17,000 - 18,000
Pedigree: Judge Joseph F. Sawicki, as part of a complete 1843 cased proof set of copper and silver coins (5/1948); The John Jay Pittman Collec-
tion, now as part of a complete 1843 cased proof set that included the gold coinage (David W. Akers, 10/1997), lot 832; FUN U.S. Coin Auction,
now being offered individually after the aforementioned 1843 proof set was broken up (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 3688; The Bay State Collection
(Heritage, 7/2009), lot 1070; Houston, TX U.S. Coin Auction (Heritage, 12/2009), lot 412, January Tampa FUN Sale (Heritage 1/2011), lot
5484.
.
