1853 Liberty Seated Dime. Arrows. Proof-65 (NGC).，This brilliant silver Gem displays all die characteristics very clearly. The central devices are sharply struck and have a satiny silver frost. The fields are in pleasant contrast, displaying considerable reflectivity on both sides. The dies obviously clashed hard, and artifacts of this clashing are easily seen. The obverse exhibits strong remnants in the right field, and under close inspection die striations from the attempt to grind out the die damage become clear. These are perfectly uniform, parallel, and oriented from the upper left downward to the lower right. The reverse shows artifacts of the clashing around the letters of ONE DIME and are most pronounced at the ME and nearby. Similar to the obverse, fine striations are seen across the surface from the die polishing but on this side, additional fine polishing work is seen around the AME of AMERICA. These are difficult to see on toned pieces, as they are quite fine, but they are clear on this brilliant Gem.<br /><br />It is believed that five examples of this issue were struck in Proof, and modern estimates are four to five survivors, a number supported by the population data of the major grading services. PCGS records 3 events, while NGC records a total of five, of these, two are noted as Proof-66, but these are likely the same coin and it may be the Kauffman example currently residing in a PCGS 66+ holder.<br /><br />As an aside, it is interesting to study the dies of these pieces, as the character is different from what we have come to think proper for Proofs, namely glasslike mirrored fields from fresh, well cared for dies, and sharp frosted devices. However, in the early years of Proof manufacture, the standards were not as stringent and many issues are seen with all sorts of die anomalies and imperfect mirrors as is the case with the 1853 Arrows dimes. In fact, this generality is true of other Proofs of this date. Indeed, nearly all of them share the characteristics described here.<br /><br />Back to the present coin, this appears to rank as the third finest known 1853 Arrows Proof dime, falling behind the Kauffman Proof-66+ (PCGS) and the Pittman Proof-65 (PCGS). It outranks the Norweb Proof-63 (NGC) and the Kamal Ahwash Choice Proof. It is absolutely a wonderful example in its own right and few collectors will ever see, let alone own, one of these great rarities.，PCGS# 4742. NGC ID: 23CE.，NGC Census: 1; 2 finer (MS-66).，From Superiors Sale of October 2000, Lot 4345; our October 2014 sale of the 1853 Collection, Lot 10016.
