This 1854-O dime offers top-of-the-pop premium Gem quality that is sure to result in spirited bidding among astute collectors. This is a beautiful coin, the surfaces highly lustrous with a billowy satin texture. Fully struck and brilliant apart from a blush or two of pale iridescent gold around the peripheries.As with the half dime, quarter and half dollar whose designs were also modified in similar fashion that year, the arrows were introduced to the obverse of the dime in 1853 to signify a weight reduction, in this case from 2.67 grams to 2.49 grams. The weight standard was changed through the Act of February 21, 1853, to discourage hoarding of silver coins in the Eastern states that followed within a couple of years of the discovery of gold in California and the onset of the Gold Rush. By reducing the coins weight and making them subsidiary, the dime was once again worth more in face value than as bullion and was able to circulate freely. Mintage figures at the Philadelphia and New Orleans mints rose accordingly, the Southern facility delivering 1,770,000 examples in 1854. While the issue is plentiful in lower grades, the 1854-O circulated heavily and can be challenging to locate even in problem free AU. Mint State coins survived generally as a matter of chance, and they are particularly rare above the MS-64 level. This captivating MS-66+ is the single finest certified at PCGS and, as such, would serve as a focal point in a stellar quality type set or advanced Liberty Seated dime cabinet.,,PCGS# 4606. NGC ID: 239B.,PCGS Population: 1; 0 finer.,
