| ||||||||||||
The dime, in United States usage, is a ten-cent coin (10¢), one tenth of a United States dollar, labelled formally as "one dime". The word dime comes from the Old French disme (now dîme), meaning "tithe" or "tenth part", from the Latin decima [pars]. In the past prices have occasionally been quoted on signage and other materials in terms of dimes, abbreviated as "d" or a lowercase "d" with a slash through it (đ) as with the cent and mill signs. After the half dime became five cents in 1873, the dime is now the only United States coin in general circulation that is not denominated in terms of dollars or cents. After the initial issue of the "Draped Bust" type (1796 - 1807), a second Capped Bust obverse was used until 1837. In 1837, the type was replaced by the Seated Liberty type, and composition was changed to 90% silver and 10% copper. The silver denominations changed after the Mint Act of 1873 which, in an attempt to make U.S. coinage the currency of the world, added a small amount of mass to the dime, quarter, and half-dollar to bring their weights in line with fractions of the French 5-franc piece. The change also ensured the quarter dollar (which is valued 2.5 times the dime) weighed 2.5 times the dime (6.25 g), and the half dollar (twice the value of the quarter dollar) weighed twice what the quarter dollar weighed (12.5 g). In this way, a specific weight of these coins, no matter the mixture of denominations, would always be worth the same. This relation in weight and value continued in the cupro-nickel coins from 1965 on. The updated weight is indicated on the coins by arrows on both sides of the date. The Seated Liberty portrait designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage from 1836 through 1891. The denominations which feature the Goddess of Liberty in a Seated Liberty design include the half dime, the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and until 1873 the silver dollar, as well as the short-lived twenty cent piece. The obverse shows Liberty seated on a rock, holding a pole with a Liberty cap on it and supporting a shield. On the reverse, the denomination is spelled as ONE DIME, unlike on earlier types. In 1892, the type was replaced by the Liberty Head design (known as the Barber Dime). In later years, there were also changes in size and composition (the dime is now smaller and made of copper-nickel), but these coins have never been demonetised and are still legal tender. This, of course, is of academic interest only, as their numismatic value is enormously higher than their face value. | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
![]() |
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online! |
![]() |
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online! |
Country | United States |
---|---|
Currency | US Dollar |
Coin Type | One Dime, Seated Liberty |
Issued | 1873 |
Symbol | Liberty, Seated |
Face Value | 10 (x Cent) |
Circulation Mintage | 4,430,791 (4.4 million) |
Total Mintage | 4,432,691 (4.4 million) |
Current | No |
Material | Silver |
Designer | James Barton Longacre |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Coin Alignment (Axis 6) |
Size | 17.9000 mm |
Mass | 2.5000 g |
OCC ID | LGVB-OLDC-BVNR-OMPX |
Image | Details |
---|---|
![]() |
Coin, United States, Seated Liberty Dime 1873
Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: No mint mark. Source |
![]() |
Coin, United States, Seated Liberty Dime 1873
Copyright: NumisCorner.com Notes: Arrows around date. Source |
![]() |
Proof Liberty Seated Dime 1873
Copyright: Paradime Coins Notes: Proof. No mint mark. Source |
![]() |
Proof Liberty Seated Dime 1873
Copyright: Paradime Coins Notes: Proof. No arrows around date. Source |
Source | Reference ID |
---|---|
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | United States KM# 92 (No Arrows) |
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | United States KM# 105 (With Arrows) |