1838-O Liberty Seated Dime. No Stars. Fortin-102. Rarity-3. MS-65 (NGC).A breathtakingly beautiful, conditionally rare example of this important mintmarked issue. Fully lustrous with a soft satin texture, both sides exhibit speckled olive and reddish-russet highlights to a base of light golden iridescence. All devices are sharply defined, and the surfaces are exceptionally smooth for the issue with a virtually pristine appearance in hand. One of the classic U.S. Mint designs of the 19th century, the Liberty Seated motif would eventually be used at one point or another on all silver denominations from the half dime through the silver dollar. It made its debut on the dime in 1837 with a delivery of 682,500 circulation strikes from the Philadelphia Mint, as well as a small number of Proofs. A refreshingly uncluttered design that allows the eye to focus on the most significant device (read: Libertys portrait), the No Stars type was destined to remain in production for just two years, and only at the New Orleans Mint in 1838.In addition to the brevity of the design that it carries, the 1838-O is also significant as the first New Orleans Mint dime in U.S. coinage history. Perhaps understandably, this issue enjoys strong demand among both advanced type collectors and specialists in Liberty Seated coinage. Most numismatists will have to settle for a circulated coin, however, for the 1838-O is scarce in the lowest Mint State grades and rare with the outstanding Gem quality and eye appeal offered here.NGC Census: 4; 2 finer (both MS-66).
