1853 Seated Liberty Dime

The story of the 1853

Production at Philadelphia fell off a cliff in 1853. Only 95,000 were made, against 1.5 million the year before. That drop is why the 1853 is the one people look for. The next year it made 12 million (1853).

The other mints made far more that year: 1853 alone came to 12 million, roughly 127 for every 1853. If you're checking a pile of 1853 coins, the mint mark is the one to look for. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1844 (72,500) and the 1856-S (70,000).

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). Within the 1850s it's 4th smallest of 23, between the 1856-S (70,000) and the 1858-O (290,000).

It also marks a change of metal: 1853 is the first year of the Seated Liberty Dime in 90% silver, 10% copper, which lasted until 1872.

More on the 1853

The 1853 without arrows is the last dime struck at the old weight of 2.67 grams. Philadelphia made 95,000 early in 1853 before the dies with arrows were ready. Once the lighter standard of the Act of February 21, 1853 took effect, the Mint struck more than 12 million arrows dimes that year.

The no arrows coin is therefore scarce, with less than one percent of the year's output. When you have an 1853 dime, look at both sides of the date. No arrows means this variety. Many no arrows coins found today are worn. Weight is a useful check, since a genuine piece is close to 2.67 grams while an arrows coin weighs about 2.49 grams. Dimes of 1853 with arrows are among the most common of the series, which makes the contrast striking. The no arrows coins have stars and drapery like the dimes of 1852. They are easy to overlook in a mixed group because the date looks ordinary, so check every 1853 you come across.

Arrows mark a lighter dime (1853 to 1855)

The Act of February 21, 1853 solved the silver problem by making the coins lighter. The dime dropped from 2.67 to 2.49 grams, so its silver was once again worth less than its face value and it could circulate freely. The same law limited the amount of silver coin anyone had to accept in a single payment, which made the dime a subsidiary coin. To show the change, small arrowheads were placed on either side of the date. Unlike the quarter and half dollar, the dime got no rays on the reverse. Before the new dies were ready, Philadelphia struck 95,000 dimes at the old weight without arrows. Those coins are scarce today.

Once the arrows dies arrived, Philadelphia struck 12,078,010 dimes in 1853, a total no later Seated dime topped until 1891. New Orleans added 1,100,000 that year and 1,770,000 in 1854. Philadelphia struck 4,470,000 in 1854 and 2,075,000 in 1855. New Orleans made no dimes in 1855. The flood of new coins finally gave the country enough small change after years of shortage.

Arrows dimes are among the most available Seated dimes from before the Civil War. They make a popular type coin because the arrows stay visible even on heavily worn pieces. Check both sides of the date for them. An 1853 without arrows is the coin to look for, since its mintage was less than one percent of the arrows total.

Elsewhere in US coinage in 1853

Silver bullion was worth more than face value, so the Act of February 21, 1853 reduced the weight of the half dime, dime, quarter and half dollar. Arrows beside the date and rays on the reverse marked the lighter coins.