1844 Seated Liberty Dime

The story of the 1844

Production at Philadelphia fell off a cliff in 1844. Only 72,500 were made, against 1.4 million the year before. That drop is why the 1844 is the one people look for. The next year it made 1.8 million (1845).

No other mint struck it for circulation that year, so every 1844 you find is from Philadelphia. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1856-S (70,000) and the 1858-S (60,000).

Philadelphia struck the Seated Liberty Dime in 59 issues between 1837 and 1891. By mintage this one lands in the scarcer half, while the key for that mint is the 1867 (6,000). Among the 1840s issues, only the 1846 had a smaller run.

More on the 1844

The 1844 is one of the classic rarities of the Seated dime series. Philadelphia struck only 72,500 and New Orleans made no dimes that year. Collectors have long called it Little Orphan Annie, a nickname that has stuck to the date for generations.

Few 1844 dimes were saved and the date is scarce in every grade. Most known coins are well worn and many have problems. Because a 4 can be altered from another digit, check the final numeral under magnification and compare its shape with the first 4 in the date. The shield and LIBERTY tell you the grade. An 1844 in Fine or better, with no damage or cleaning, is a coin specialists notice. The 1844 sits between two much larger Philadelphia runs, 1,370,000 in 1843 and 1,755,000 in 1845. Why so few were struck that year is not known. Stars around Liberty and drapery at her elbow confirm the design.

New Orleans at full stride and the 1844 (1841 to 1845)

With the drapery design settled, both mints turned out dimes in volume. New Orleans passed two million in 1841 and again in 1842, striking 2,007,500 and 2,020,000, more than Philadelphia managed in either year. Philadelphia stayed between 1,370,000 and 1,887,500 from 1841 to 1843 and reached 1,755,000 in 1845. Proofs of these years were struck only in tiny numbers and are almost never seen. For ordinary dates of this stretch, a worn coin is a common sight and an easy addition to a set.

The scarce coins come from the dips. New Orleans made only 150,000 dimes in 1843 and none at all in 1844. Its 1845-O run of 230,000 is also elusive, especially with a full shield. The great rarity of the era is the Philadelphia 1844, with just 72,500 struck. Collectors have long called it Little Orphan Annie. Few were saved at the time and it is hard to find in any grade.

Dimes of 1841 to 1845 often turn up with heavy wear, scratches or old cleaning. Read the date carefully on an 1844, since a 4 can be faked on another year. Then judge the grade by the word LIBERTY on the shield: if every letter is clear, the coin is at least Fine. For the New Orleans issues, check that the O mint mark on the reverse is sharp and sits cleanly in the field.